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Ryan M
Ryan M
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The phrase you are looking forThat is correct, idiomatic English, but depending on the exact meaning, you probablymay be looking for "to a first approximation", meaning:

a roughly approximate value of a quantity often preliminary to more precise determination

The difference is nuanced, but my impression is that "to a good approximation" refers to a somewhat more exact approximation than "to a first approximation" (in that one could make better approximations after the first).

Google Ngrams Viewer suggests that both are used in writing, but thatwith "to a first approximation" is significantlybeing somewhat more common. Also, both are declining in usage in modern writing. Google Ngrams Viewer graph showing "to a first approximation" consistently higher than "to a good approximation"

The phrase you are looking for is probably "to a first approximation", meaning:

a roughly approximate value of a quantity often preliminary to more precise determination

Google Ngrams Viewer suggests that both are used, but that "to a first approximation" is significantly more common. Also, both are declining in usage in modern writing. Google Ngrams Viewer graph showing "to a first approximation" consistently higher than "to a good approximation"

That is correct, idiomatic English, but depending on the exact meaning, you may be looking for "to a first approximation", meaning:

a roughly approximate value of a quantity often preliminary to more precise determination

The difference is nuanced, but my impression is that "to a good approximation" refers to a somewhat more exact approximation than "to a first approximation" (in that one could make better approximations after the first).

Google Ngrams Viewer suggests that both are used in writing, with "to a first approximation" being somewhat more common. Also, both are declining in usage in modern writing. Google Ngrams Viewer graph showing "to a first approximation" consistently higher than "to a good approximation"

Source Link
Ryan M
Ryan M
  • 1.2k
  • 9
  • 17

The phrase you are looking for is probably "to a first approximation", meaning:

a roughly approximate value of a quantity often preliminary to more precise determination

Google Ngrams Viewer suggests that both are used, but that "to a first approximation" is significantly more common. Also, both are declining in usage in modern writing. Google Ngrams Viewer graph showing "to a first approximation" consistently higher than "to a good approximation"