Accurately vs. precisely: what’s the difference?
The short answer
While accurately emphasizes correctness and being free from errors, precisely emphasizes exactness and being very specific or detailed.
What they have in common
Both accurately and precisely describe the quality of being exact and correct, often with regard to measurements, descriptions, or performance.
Examples
accurately
- The scientist measured the liquid’s temperature accurately.
- She answered the questions accurately on the test.
- He was able to hit the target accurately every time.
precisely
- The clock was set to the correct time precisely.
- They calculated the distance precisely to two decimal places.
- She explained the instructions precisely so there was no confusion.
Which one is more common?
Spotted a mistake in this article? Tell us