approximately vs exactly
Definitions
adverb
- (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
Examples
They drifted into the control room and floated above the sensor-generated hologram of the “herd. †The “herd†consisted of approximately 3,000 mountain-sized blocks of ice that once were comet 2P/Encke.
The conservatory measures approximately 13ft x 16ft.
All birds were hatched in incubators and kept in brooders until approximately 7 weeks of age, at which time they were moved to 5 x 7 x 4 m outdoor flight pens.
Definitions
adverb
- indicating exactness or preciseness
- in a precise manner
- just as it should be
Examples
Who is willing to believe that Alexandria is exactly 5000 stadia from Syene, whatever the value of the stadium?
If there was any hope of holding on to even a shred of her dwindling self-respect, she should do exactly what she knew Margo would do—close the laptop, take her de-scrunchied, perfumed, and nearly thonged self down to the nearest club, pick up the first passably good-looking stranger who asked her to dance, and bring him back to the apartment for some safe but anonymous sex.
And that is exactly why I say "intelligence" in the context of ID is a dormitive principle:
