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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
At Approximately
"He arrived at approximately 5pm."
"At" means the exact time. "Approximately" means near that time. Therefore, isn't "at approximately" grammatically incorrect? Isn't it a contradiction? But how else can one re-write the sentence? Leaving out "at" just doesn't sound correct.
Thanks for your time.
"At" means the exact time. "Approximately" means near that time. Therefore, isn't "at approximately" grammatically incorrect? Isn't it a contradiction? But how else can one re-write the sentence? Leaving out "at" just doesn't sound correct.
Thanks for your time.
Top answer
Hi, The phrase "at approximately" sounds OK in your sentence, though I see what you're driving at. m. m.
- Hi, The phrase "at approximately" sounds OK in your sentence, though I see what you're driving at.
- m.
- m.
- This is more casual English.
- Some may even say it is wrong, so I would avoid it in more formal writing.
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12 Answers
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Hi,
The phrase "at approximately" sounds OK in your sentence, though I see what you're driving at.
Here is a possible paraphrase:
He arrived around 5 p.m.
However, don't be surprised if you hear this:
He arrived at around 5 p.m.
This is more casual English. Some may even say it is wrong, so I would avoid it in more formal writ
The phrase "at approximately" sounds OK in your sentence, though I see what you're driving at.
Here is a possible paraphrase:
He arrived around 5 p.m.
However, don't be surprised if you hear this:
He arrived at around 5 p.m.
This is more casual English. Some may even say it is wrong, so I would avoid it in more formal writ
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Aha. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Further, I once read that "at roughly" is acceptable, whereas "at approximately" is wrong. I can't remember the source of this information but it was from a grammarian. I don't see why they both shouldn't be wrong.
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"At roughly" is acceptable informally, whereas "at approximately" is acceptable formally.
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Mister Micawber: How can "at approximately" be accepted formally when the words contradict themselves? I'm confused. Please respond.
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At approximately / at about / at roughly
These are synonymous and there is no contradiction in any of them that I can see. The speaker specifies a range of time to meet at.
These are synonymous and there is no contradiction in any of them that I can see. The speaker specifies a range of time to meet at.
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Mister Micawber: At -- Preposition expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position
Approximately -- adverb: close to; around; roughly or in the region of
How can the words be synonymous with the definitions I copied from the web's dictionary?
Thank you.
Approximately -- adverb: close to; around; roughly or in the region of
How can the words be synonymous with the definitions I copied from the web's dictionary?
Thank you.
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You are just repeating yourself. I do not believe the definition of 'at' indicates a point place or position.
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Anonymous"At" means the exact time.No it doesn't. Where did you get that? "at" is a preposition used to connect a verb with a time or place. Neither the time nor the place have to be exact in order to sanction the use of "at".
arrive ___ time: He arrived _at__ [ 3pm / roughly 4pm / approximately 6am / exactly 8am / a time between 3p
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AnonymousWhat about 'approximately at'? Would this be incorrect?It's very unnatural. It seems to suggest that he approximately arrived, which is nonsense.
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