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Well, it depends on the usage. In the truest definition of precision
vs. accuracy, precision is the agreement of several
measurements/operations carried out in the same way. Accuracy is the
agreement of a value to the actual value, so you can have four
combinations of as a result:
Not precise and not accurate
Precise but not accurate (All the measurements/final number agree with
each other closely but they in no way reflect the actual/true value.)
Imprecise but accurate (you're all over the board, but by virtue of the
spread of the measurements, you get the actual value covered)
Precise and accurate (the best of the four)
I think maybe what the writer is trying to say is that their final
answer/result will be closer to the needed/expected/actual result, so
the accuracy is indeed better, so maybe instead of more accurate,
something like the final answer will be closer to the expected result?
Just my two cents worth,
TVB
-----Original Message-----
From:
techwr-l-bounces+tammy -dot- vanboening=healthlanguage -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+tammy -dot- vanboening=healthlanguage -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techw
r-l.com] On Behalf Of Keith Hansen
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 8:25 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: More/Less Accurate/Complete
Folks,
Give me your opinion on these sentences... (I just came across them
while editing.)
"If you enter these numbers, your figures will be more complete."
"If you enter these numbers, your figures will be more accurate."
I don't think figures can be more or less complete/accurate. They either
are complete/accurate, or they aren't.
For example, assume you have two students in math class:
* Student A says 2+2 = 5.
* Student B says 2+2 = 500.
Neither student is accurate. You could say one student is closer to the
correct answer than the other student. But "more accurate" or "less
accurate"?!
Your opinions, please.
Keith
P.S. Of course, in the U.S. Constitution, we do have that bit about
forming a "more perfect" union...
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