What makes an estimate “conservative?”
When estimating (time, for example), it's common to either ask for or offer a "conservative" estimate. Irrespective of political connotations, how does "conservative" describe a given estimate?
Is a conservative estimate the one the causes the least disruption, regardless of whether the estimate is an overestimate or an underestimate?
...or "liberal" for that matter.
5
In such contexts, conservative means something more like cautious, non-optimistic. Which usually means any scalar value cited in a conservative estimate is likely to be lower than most other estimates. But presumably there can be contexts where the conservative approach leads to a higher estimated value for something than other predictions. – FumbleFingers Jun 17 '16 at 16:19
1
^^ this is the best answer so far ;-) – mHurley Jun 17 '16 at 16:29
1
Yes to what @FumbleFingers said, and will add that the reason as estimate would want to be "conservative" is usually so the recipient of the estimate would be prepared for a "worst case scenario". (The numeric swing and direction of what conservative means is totally contextual to the thing being discussed.) – quixoto Jun 17 '16 at 16:31
A conservative estimate protects (or conserves) your side's bottom line or reputation for execution.
The dictionary definition of 'conservative estimate' is one which is deliberately intended to be lower than what the real value actually is.
In the case you mention, where a high estimate is the one that involves the least risk, you could reasonably argue for describing it as conservative, but you will be going against established usage and run the risk of being misunderstood. I would recommend looking for another word in this case - perhaps 'safe'.
I'm not looking for a particular word. I'm looking to understand this one. It's difficult to conclude because the OED says: "Characterized by caution or moderation; (esp. of an estimate) purposely low for the sake of caution." So I'm trying to work out if it's the smallness that makes it conservative, or the caution that makes it conservative.
If you ask me how long it will take me too build a shed and I think it will take 1 week, so I tell you 2 weeks - that seems like a conservative estimate to me.
What FF said -- a conservative estimate is the least risky, given whatever criteria for "risk" exist. As such, it may be less apt to "grab opportunity".
Eg, if I'm operating a Christmas tree lot I generally need to order all of the trees from the tree farm before the season starts, and before I have a good idea of what the market for trees will be this year. A conservative estimate of potential sales would leave my lot empty at the end of the season (lost opportunity) while a liberal estimate would leave me with unsold trees at the end (with actual money lost since I still must pay the supplier for those trees)
A conservative estimate is a 'guess' on the lower side of given parameters, based on knowledge and experience. I'll use the analogy of an auction valuation. If the valuer believes the item in question may achieve a bid of between, let's say 10k to 15k, the conservative end of his valuation is 10k. The item may, if the right under bidder is present achieve much more, or, maybe not even reach it's reserve. It's an estimate. I reiterate, a conservative estimate is a 'guess' based on knowledge and experience
I don't agree that "a conservative estimate is a 'guess' based on knowledge and experience".
I would say that a "conservative" estimate means the absolute minimum number a quantity could be.
A "liberal" estimate would be the maximum quantity if you factored in every assumption that could potentially increase it.
I think an example might be, if you are counting widgits, and there were some things that might be widgits or might not, a conservative estimate would exclude them, and a liberal estimate would include them.
To be conservative with an estimate is to wish to avoid underestimating, while to be liberal is to want to avoid overestimating.
So, if you were in a position of giving an estimate, you look at the consequences of underestimating or overestimating. For example if you were an employee of a company, and your boss says "How long will it take you to do X?", you might think:
"If i underestimate the necessary time, i'm going to end up delivering it late, and look bad. On the other hand, if I overestimate the time my boss will probably just say "Ok" and put that in the planning schedule, then later I get to deliver it earlier than expected and look cool."
So, there's bad consequences for underestimating, and no bad consequences for overestimating. So, you would overestimate, and you would call that a conservative estimate.
If you were a freelancer, there's also potentially bad consequences for overestimating: they might give the job to someone cheaper. So, you need to balance the two potential problems. If you were really desperate for the work, and willing to take a risk on having to work nights or something, you might give a liberal estimate - a cheap one in this case.
So, logically, a conservative estimate is one where you deliberately overestimate the resources (time, money, materials etc), and a liberal estimate is one where you deliberately underestimate the resources (perhaps because you think it's going to be easy, and you want to make sure the client gives you the job).
I could accept the statement that "To be conservative...is to...avoid underestimating" but I'm not sure about the explanation. Is a "conservative" estimate conservative because there are fewer bad consequences for it? Therefore, if UNDERestimating had the least-negative consequences, would it become the "conservative" estimate? I'm just not sure I follow the explanation well...
I've never heard of a "liberal estimate". The reverse of a conservative estimate could be an "aggressive estimate", "stretch goal" or similar marker that the estimate has a risk of not being met.
A conservative estimate is usually a low one, i.e. one that wants to avoid overestimating.
The truth is that, at a conservative estimate, there are only about eighty thousand South Asian nationals (in Kenya). It seems pretty clear the writer there suspects the true value is in fact lower than his conservative estimate.
A conservative estimate is one where you deliberately, knowingly overestimate. The stuff about consequences just explains the motivation for the decision to make a conservative estimate.
Adj - Less risky (conservative estimate), Less wasteful (conservative consumption) Noun - A person disposed to conservative actions / choices.
The OP didn't ask about "conservative" in general, but the phrase "conservative estimate" quite specifically. And it's clear from his other comments that he's read the dictionary definition already, and anyway a question which can be conclusively answered by looking the word asked about in a dictionary is not a good question and should not be answered. We are not here to reprint the dictionary. In other words: this answer is just noise, and adds no value.
conservative
1.보수적인, 보존적인
2.보수주의자, 보존주의자
3.수수한
1.보수적인, 보수[전통]주의의
conservative policies : 보수적인 정책
2. [평가 등이] 줄잡은; 온건한; 조심성 있는
by conservative estimate : 줄잡아 어림해도.
3.[복장 등이] 수수한
She dresses in a rather conservativeway.
그녀의 옷차림은 다소 수수한 편이다.
4.(종종 Conservative) (특히 영국의) 보수당의; (C-) 보수파 유대교(도)의.
5.[물리] [에너지가] 보존되는
conservative force : 보존력
progressive : 진보적인, 진행하는, 점진적인, 진보주의의
radical : 급진적인, 과격한, 근본적인, 급진주의자, 극단적인
conservative party : 보수당, 보수적인 정당
too conservative : 봉건적
ruling conservative party : 집권 보수당
the last conservative government : 지난번의 보수당 정부
hard shell conservative : 완고하게 보수적인 사람
American parents tend to beconservative when it comes toraising children.
자라나는 아이들에 관한 한 미국 부모님들은 보수적인 경향이 있어.
His father was a conservative manwho preferred a more conventionalpath.
그의 아버지는 관습적인 방식을 더 선호하시는보수적인 남성이었다.
Even in Qassim, the mostconservative province, two femalecandidates won
보수적인 것으로 알려져 있는 카심에서도두 명의 여성 출마자가 당선되었다.
Both Seoul's liberalists andconservative groups have never hadsuch access.
서울의 자유주의자와 보수주의자 그룹은 그러한접근을 한 적이 없다.
Conservative politicians are stilldownplaying Roh as a failed left-leaning politician.
보수주의 정치인들은 여전히 노무현을 실패한 좌파 정치인으로 경시하고 있다.
In recent decades, liberal Scotlandhas had political dissensions withconservative England over issues,
최근 수십 년간, 자유주의를 표방 (標榜)하는 스코틀랜드는 다음과 같은 문제를 놓고 보수주의의잉글랜드와 정치적인 불화 (不和)를 겪어왔다:
Are you something that's a littlemore calm, reserved, conservative?
좀 침착하고, 조용하며, 수수한 쪽일까요?
"It helped me be a little bit moreconservative in my lifestyle," she said.
그것은 나의 생활방식에서 내가 좀더 검소해지도록 도왔다,"라고 그녀는 말했다.
To sum up, the Kim administrationmet the rare democratic experimentwith most undemocratic responses. In the wake of the abortive recallvote, some conservative mediaoutlets call for toughening therequirement for a recall campaign,by sharply increasing the number ofsignatures needed for initiating theprocess from the present 10percent and limiting the conditionsfor recall to moral and ethicalbreaches, such as briberies andembezzlement, to prevent theabuse of recall actions.
요약하자면 김 지사의 도 정부는 드물게 보는 민주주의의 실험을 가장 비민주적인 대응으로 맞은셈이다. 수포로 돌아간 소환선거 후에 일부 보수언론들은 소환 행동의 남용을 막기 위해서 요건을 더욱 강화할 것을 촉구하고 있는데 소환과정을 시작하는데 필요한 서명 숫자를 지금의 10퍼센트보다 대폭 늘리고 소환 조건도 뇌물수수나횡령 같은 도덕적 윤리적 위반으로 한정하는 등등이 그 것이다.
American parents tend to beconservative when it comes toraising children.
자라나는 아이들에 관한 한 미국 부모님들은 보수적인 경향이 있어.
In some sense it was a warbetween the ruling conservativesand the liberal
어떤 점에서는, 이것은 보수 여당과 민주당 사이의 전쟁이었다.
Conservative politicians are stilldownplaying Roh as a failed left-leaning politician.
보수주의 정치인들은 여전히 노무현을 실패한 좌파 정치인으로 경시하고 있다.
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opposite of a "conservative estimate?"
Discussion in 'English Only' started by mikichan, Dec 29, 2013.
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mikichan
Senior Member
Chinese
What would be the opposite of a "conservative estimate?" for business, such as an estimate about the revenue going down 30% due to stronger dollar, in business.
The opposite estimate will be the revenue going down only 2-3%.
An "aggressive/radical estimate?"
Thank you.
mikichan, Dec 29, 2013 #1
Thomas Tompion
Senior Member
Southwest France
English - England
I'm not clear that I would use the word conservative for the first estimate, Mikichan.
The adjective serves at least two potential functions: 1. to comment on the accuracy of the estimate. 2. to comment on the desirability or otherwise of the future it suggests.
Which do you wish to look at in particular?
Thomas Tompion, Dec 29, 2013 #2
mikichan
Senior Member
Chinese
Thank you Thomas.
I think sometimes the phrase "conservative estimate" is used in business to mean "an estimate made with realistic but a bit pessimistic view, possibly close to or a mild version of the worst case senario, meaning, not too much wishful thinking."
So, to ask someone "Is that a conservative estimate?" means, "It is possible that it turns to out to be that bad, but there is more chance that things will not be that bad, correct?"
So, to answer your question, it can be 1, and 2, I guess, but not sure if that is what you meant by "accuracy" and "desirability or otherwise." I could not understand you fully.
Thank you.
mikichan, Dec 31, 2013 #3
farhad_persona
farhad_persona
Senior Member
Farsi
The definition of conservative estimate:
lower than what is probably the real amount or number
Depending on the context, you can use optimistic estimate , pessimistic estimate, precise estimate, realistic estimate, and reasonable estimate.
farhad_persona, Dec 31, 2013 #4
sdgraham
sdgraham
Senior Member
Oregon, USA
USA English
farhad_persona said: ↑
The definition of conservative estimate:
lower than what is probably the real amount or number
Depending on the context, you can use optimistic estimate , pessimistic estimate, precise estimate, realistic estimate, and reasonable estimate.
Obviously this list, which we are not supposed to provide, of wildly different terms does not satisfy the question of "opposite."
(not to mention that many of the choices just don't fit)
(Except for "optimistic," which seems appropriate to me, the terms are dissimilar not opposite.
Last edited: Dec 31, 2013
sdgraham, Dec 31, 2013 #5
mikichan
Senior Member
Chinese
Thank you sdgraham!
mikichan, Dec 31, 2013 #6
atom_ant
New Member
English - United States
How about generous?
atom_ant, Mar 28, 2014 #7
Packard
Packard
Senior Member
USA, English
If you wish to be more precise you can offer three estimates:
My best estimate...
A conservative estimate...
An optimistic estimate...
In summary we expect to see a result ranging from [conservative estimate] to [optimistic estimate], but likely somewhere in between.
Packard, Mar 28, 2014 #8
five1mon
New Member
Swedish
I would also like to know this I can't think of a (single) good word that would be the opposite of conservative in this context.
In engineering/science we often speak about conservative approach/measurements when you're being cautious or overly restrictive. If you can do either A or B and you always chose B whenever there's a slightest doubt you are being conservative.
five1mon, Feb 22, 2015 #9
Francophileoutremere
Senior Member
NYC
Arabe
I'm looking at this expression, and found, according the text that i will quote, that the opposite of "conservative estimate" is "liberal estimate".
It's up to you judge.
A conservative estimate is one that is cautious to avoid excess in approximating the quantity, degree, or worth of something. On the other hand a liberal estimate would be one that is cautious to avoid underestimating the quantity in question. For example a conservative estimate of the number of Buddhists in China is about 500,000,000 whereas a less cautious liberal estimate is 1,200,000,000. [1]
Josh Becker, the film director, described the definition of a conservative estimate as "'the low point'" continuing "Whereas, a 'liberal estimate' would give you the high end. < I have reduced the quotation to comply with the 4 sentence limit: Cagey, moderator > [2]
< Source: Conservapedia article on "Conservative Estimate".
They, in turn, have quoted outside sources, but the links to those sources --[1] and [2] -- no longer work. Cagey. >
Last edited by a moderator: Jun 2, 2015
Francophileoutremere, Jun 2, 2015 #10
gramman
gramman
Senior Member
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
American English
In regard to the OP, I agree with atom_ant that "generous estimate" works well in the financial world.
For the question raised by five1mon regarding a scientific environment, I might go with "uncertain."
gramman, Jun 2, 2015 #11
sdgraham
sdgraham
Senior Member
Oregon, USA
USA English
Not all expressions have precise "opposites," as can be seen from the above comments. ;)
sdgraham, Jun 2, 2015 #12
gramman
gramman
Senior Member
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
American English
sdgraham said: ↑
Not all expressions have precise "opposites."
Yes, and then there's the ever-present question of context. For example, if you're dealing with a forecast, I'd probably go with "optimistic." For a valuation, "generous" seems preferable.
gramman, Jun 2, 2015 #13
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