Precision Words|about/around/roughly/exactly:曖昧さを設計する英語
英語が上手い人は「曖昧にしない」のではなく、どれだけ曖昧にするかを選んでいる。
Precision OS(最小)
Exact(断定) / Range(幅) / Estimate(推定) / Condition(条件付き) / Confidence(確信度)
Exact(断定) / Range(幅) / Estimate(推定) / Condition(条件付き) / Confidence(確信度)
数字:about / around / roughly / approximately
| 語 | ニュアンス | 例 |
|---|---|---|
| about | 口語、軽い | It’s about $500. |
| around | 口語、近辺 | around 3pm |
| roughly | 雑め(幅広) | roughly 20–30% |
| approximately | フォーマル | approximately 1,000 units |
| exactly | 断定 | exactly $512.40 |
“roughly” は便利だが危険。幅を併記できると強い。
幅:between / from-to / up to / at least
- between $800 and $1,200
- from 2 to 3 weeks
- up to 10 units (max)
- at least 3 days (min)
幅があるなら“幅で言う”のがプロ。
期限:by / until / on / within
| 語 | 意味 | 例 |
|---|---|---|
| by | 期限(その時点まで) | by Friday |
| until | その時まで継続 | open until 6pm |
| on | 日付の当日 | on March 3 |
| within | 〜以内 | within 24 hours |
日本語の「まで」が by / until でズレる。ここは必修。
条件付き:if / unless / as long as
- If we receive approval today, we can ship tomorrow.
- Unless we hear back, we’ll proceed with Plan B.
- As long as the scope stays the same, the price stays the same.
条件文は“安全装置”。リスクを言語化できる。
確信度:I’m sure / I think / It seems / It’s likely
| 強さ | 表現 | 使いどころ |
|---|---|---|
| 強 | I’m confident that… | 根拠あり |
| 中 | It’s likely that… | 高確率 |
| 中 | It seems that… | 観察ベース |
| 弱 | It might be… | 仮説 |
毎日1分:Precision Drill(言い換え)
“It’s roughly $1,000.” → “It’s between $900 and $1,100.” → “It’s up to $1,100 depending on shipping.”
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