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Grammar pedants - help please.

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Huge Oct 2007 8:18am, 12 Oct 2007 1,733 posts	Quote Pin Huge Excellent, there's not enough of it about.
Hendo Oct 2007 12:15pm, 24 Oct 2007 11,151 posts	Quote Pin Hendo Here's one. Can you accurately estimate something? I think so, but yet it doesn't seem right.
B.B. Oct 2007 12:17pm, 24 Oct 2007 10,880 posts	Quote Pin B.B. An estimate can prove to be accurate, but in the making of such an estimate it's not so clear.
Mikuro Oct 2007 12:20pm, 24 Oct 2007 4,315 posts	Quote Pin Mikuro brain fail
Hendo Oct 2007 12:23pm, 24 Oct 2007 11,152 posts	Quote Pin Hendo But would you use it in a letter to a client - such as "...so that we can more accurately estimate how much HMRC is going to shaft you"?
B.B. Oct 2007 12:24pm, 24 Oct 2007 10,881 posts	Quote Pin B.B. Probably 'best estimate' would be more appropriate in that instance, I think
Hendo Oct 2007 12:25pm, 24 Oct 2007 11,153 posts	Quote Pin Hendo Excellent.
MissingPhoenix Oct 2007 12:25pm, 24 Oct 2007 277 posts	Quote Pin MissingPhoenix Yes definitely we do it all the time with cost estimates, giving estimates plus/minus ratings based on where the information has come from. However as this is in the grammar pedant thread I may be completely missing the point here.
Oct 2007 12:32pm, 24 Oct 2007 10,890 posts	Quote Pin I'd go with "best estimate" or "we can better estimate how xyz is going to shaft you.."
trumpton riots Oct 2007 12:42pm, 24 Oct 2007 518 posts	Quote Pin trumpton riots Hendo, this is the difference between accuracy and precision. The X's on the left below are accurate, but not precise relative to the (.) X . X X The ones below are precise, but not necessarily accurate. . XX X I think you are looking for a precise estimate