Science writing - exact, precise, or accurate


While trying to write about an experiment I have done, I am having trouble
deciding which words are appropriate for describing what I want to describe.

In non-scientific English, **precise, and accurate** have mostly overlapping
meaning, as evidenced by the jisho entry for 正確 containing all three.

However, when using these words in a formal setting, the difference in meaning
becomes more apparent. I was hoping to know if anyone has knowledge on what
Japanese words would be used or how they are used to convey a similar
difference while speaking Japanese.

* * *

A brief delineation of what I consider the differences between the three
words:

> **accuracy** : A measure of how much a method/machine gives repeated results
> clustered around the _true_ answer.
>
> **precision** : A measure of how much a measurement method/machine gives
> repeated results close to _each other_.

(These are the nouns rather than the adjectives, but I found the nouns less
wordy to define)

See image for visualization:

[![illustration of the differences of precision and accuracy
](https://i.stack.imgur.com/B3gX9.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/B3gX9.png)

So, if anyone has insight into how to express these terms in Japanese, both
accurately and precisely, that would be appreciated!

**Edit:** If there is also common words for the opposite of these concepts
(i.e. inaccurate or imprecise) those would be useful too.




In scientific contexts where accuracy and precision are clearly distinguished,
use:

  * accurate = 正確(な); accuracy = 正確性/正確度
  * precise = 精密(な); precision = 精密性/精密度

精度 is also used to translate precision, but since it's defined inconsistently
in some areas, I personally do not prefer this term when the distinction is
important.

Reference:
[正確度と精度](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E5%BA%A6%E3%81%A8%E7%B2%BE%E5%BA%A6)




In scientific contexts where accuracy and precision are clearly distinguished,
use:

  * accurate = 正確(な); accuracy = 正確性/正確度
  * precise = 精密(な); precision = 精密性/精密度

精度 is also used to translate precision, but since it's defined inconsistently
in some areas, I personally do not prefer this term when the distinction is
important.

Reference:
[正確度と精度](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E5%BA%A6%E3%81%A8%E7%B2%BE%E5%BA%A6)

