imprecisely
imprecisely — adverb
1. in a way that is not correct, exact, or clearly stated — for example, describing
in a way that is not correct, exact, or clearly stated — for example, describing a location with the wrong street name, recalling a number without being sure, or wording a question so loosely that different people understand it differently.
Chen described the meeting place imprecisely, so the group ended up waiting at two different train station exits.
verb + imprecisely for manner
The survey was written imprecisely, and nearly half the respondents misinterpreted the main question.
imprecisely modifies past-participle 'written'
Samir recalled the date only imprecisely, saying it was "sometime in early March."
The architect measured the room imprecisely, which caused the new cabinets to be five centimetres too wide.
"About fifty guests" was recorded imprecisely in the log; the actual count was forty-seven.
- vaguely
suggests a deliberate lack of detail rather than mere error
- loosely
emphasises a relaxed or careless approach to accuracy
- approximately
neutral, often used for numbers; less negative than 'imprecisely'
文法句型
verb + imprecisely
imprecisely + verb (past participle)
用法筆記
Frequently appears with verbs of communication (speak, describe, recall, state, phrase) and measurement (calculate, estimate, measure). Often used in passive constructions when the agent is unimportant.
常見錯誤
imprecisely — adjective
1. not giving exact details or clear information; lacking the accuracy needed for a
not giving exact details or clear information; lacking the accuracy needed for a particular purpose — for example, a scale that shows weight in whole kilograms when you need grams, or a deadline like "next week" instead of a specific date.
The recipe was frustrating — the imprecise measurements called for "a handful of flour" instead of a cup measurement.
imprecise measurements — describing quantities
The old map was imprecise, placing the village three kilometres east of its actual location.
"I'll call you later tonight" sounds imprecise — Elena preferred a specific time to expect the call.
Takuya's imprecise translation lost the subtle humour of the original Japanese joke.
The doctor warned that an imprecise diagnosis could lead to the wrong treatment plan.
- vague
emphasises lack of clarity or detail; can be intentional
- inexact
more neutral and technical; common in scientific contexts
- loose
informal; suggests flexibility rather than error
- approximate
neutral and often acceptable; not necessarily negative
文法句型
imprecise + noun
be + imprecise
用法筆記
Used with nouns related to information, measurement, and communication (estimate, measurement, description, translation, deadline, wording). Unlike 'vague', which suggests a deliberate lack of detail, 'imprecise' focuses on failure to meet a required standard of exactness.