ac and u
C1Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
Correct in all details; free from error or defect; precisely exact.
Conforming closely to a standard, truth, or reality; achieved or performed with meticulous precision, often in measurement, description, or representation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Emphasizes a high degree of precision and correctness. Often implies care, skill, or the use of reliable methods to achieve a result that matches reality or a standard.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent. American English may use "accurate" slightly more frequently in contexts like "accuracy of a firearm".
Connotations
Strongly positive in both varieties, associated with reliability, trustworthiness, and professionalism.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, especially in academic, technical, and professional contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to be accurate in + [gerund/noun phrase] (accurate in his predictions)accurate to + [measurement] (accurate to within one millimetre)It is accurate to say that...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hit the nail on the head (idiom for being accurate)”
- “Right on the money”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Essential for reporting, forecasting, and data analysis. 'We need an accurate forecast for next quarter.'
Academic
Fundamental in research, describing results, and citing sources. 'The experiment yielded accurate measurements.'
Everyday
Used for descriptions, directions, and time. 'Is your watch accurate?' 'Her account of events was accurate.'
Technical
Critical in engineering, computing, and science. 'The sensor provides accurate readings under extreme conditions.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The software is designed to accurately predict traffic flows.
- Can you accurately recall what was said?
American English
- The device accurately measures blood pressure.
- He failed to accurately describe the suspect.
adverb
British English
- She accurately pinpointed the source of the problem.
- The map accurately reflects the new road layout.
American English
- The weather model accurately predicted the storm path.
- He accurately summarized the meeting's conclusions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My friend is always accurate when she tells the time.
- Is this map accurate for the city centre?
- The news report provided an accurate summary of the event.
- For the cake recipe, accurate measurements are very important.
- The historian's account was scrupulously accurate, based on newly discovered documents.
- The satellite imagery is accurate to within five metres.
- While his critique was polemical, its factual basis was largely accurate and well-researched.
- The algorithm's predictive model proved astonishingly accurate across diverse datasets.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'a cure' for 'ate' (ate = past of eat). An 'a-cure-ate' diagnosis is needed before you can have 'a cure' for what you 'ate' that made you sick. Accurate information leads to a cure.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCURACY IS ALIGNMENT/TARGET HITTING (e.g., 'hit the mark', 'on target', 'dead on').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'аккуратный' (tidy, neat). 'Accurate' = точный, правильный.
- Не всегда напрямую переводится как 'точный' в разговорной речи. 'A good guess' может быть 'accurate', но не 'precise'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'precise' as a complete synonym (precise relates to fine detail, accurate relates to correctness).
- Misspelling as 'acurate' (missing one 'c').
- Incorrect collocation: 'very accurate' is possible but 'highly accurate' is more formal and common.
Practice
Quiz
Which word is NOT typically a strong synonym for 'accurate' in a scientific context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Accurate' means correct or true (hitting the bullseye). 'Precise' means very detailed, specific, or consistent in repetition (all shots grouped tightly together, even if away from the bullseye).
Yes, but usually in relation to a specific skill or output: 'She is an accurate shooter/reporter/translator.' It describes the person's performance as being correct, not the person inherently.
Both are used. 'Highly accurate' is more formal and common in academic/technical writing. 'Very accurate' is perfectly acceptable in general and spoken English.
The noun form is 'accuracy' (e.g., 'The accuracy of the data is crucial').