Approximately

How it is used

Common in research reports, presentations, and methods sections when giving estimated figures, durations, percentages, or distances.

Example sentences

1. The survey took approximately fifteen minutes, so most participants completed it during the break between seminars.

   The word signals a practical estimate rather than an exact timed duration, which is often enough for planning purposes.

2. Our sample included approximately two hundred articles after duplicates and irrelevant conference abstracts were removed.

   Here it softens the count slightly, indicating the reported total is near the exact number without stressing precision.

Common collocations

• approximately equal
• approximately half
• approximately 20 percent

Related terms

• hedgingUsing cautious language, such as may, might, appear to or suggest, so that a claim is only as strong as the evidence allows.
• to some extentPartly but not completely; used to limit how strongly a claim is made.

More terms: Argument and Hedging

• argument
• evidence
• argue
• claim
• suggest
• counterargument
• stance
• it could be argued that
• acknowledge
• arguably
• tentative
• plausible