Learn English – Are ‘accuracy’ and ‘precision’ interchangeable nouns

differencesnounsword-choice

The dictionary for accuracy says:

  1. The quality or state of being correct or precise.
  2. The ability to perform a task with precision.

And for precision:

  1. The quality, condition, or fact of being exact and accurate.
  2. Marked by or adapted for accuracy and exactness

Are these nouns interchangeable? If not, how to decide whether to use one or another?

Best Answer

The Wikipedia article explains the difference in the best way possible:

In the fields of science, engineering, industry and statistics, the accuracy of a measurement system is the degree of closeness of measurements of a quantity to that quantity's actual (true) value. The precision of a measurement system, also called reproducibility or repeatability, is the degree to which repeated measurements under unchanged conditions show the same results. Although the two words can be synonymous in colloquial use, they are deliberately contrasted in the context of the scientific method.

High accuracy, but low precision:

High accuracy, but low precision

High precision, but low accuracy:

High precision, but low accuracy

Related Topic