Around twenty years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Around twenty years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when estimating a time period that is approximately twenty years long. Example: "Around twenty years ago, the internet began to change the way we communicate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Around twenty years later, Laila meets Ben as they both move into college.

Wikipedia

Around twenty years ago, a young English journalist by the name of Robert Tewdwr Moss packed his bags and headed to Syria.

Huffington Post

I was around twenty years old.

Columbia University

Things changed, he said, around twenty years ago, with the patronage of Édouard Balladur, the former Prime Minister of France.

The New Yorker

I saw The Hornet's Nest over the Fourth of July weekend and among the fallen heroes were two around twenty years of age.

Columbia University

I met Ashbery around twenty years ago, through my friendship with Eric Brown, the longtime co-director of the Tibor de Nagy gallery.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The dates cover a time period from a few hundred to around seven thousand years.

Quaternary Science Reviews

Life expectancy for men has risen by around eight years since 1994.

The Economist

It is expected that the move will take around two years once approvals are in place.

Independent

It took around three years to build, with construction completed in July 2011.

The New York Times

It took around three years to build.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Around twenty years" when you want to indicate an approximate timeframe, without needing to be precise. It is suitable for both general and academic contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "Around twenty years" when precision is required. For specific dates or exact durations, provide the correct figures instead of relying on approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Around twenty years" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to specify when something occurred or will occur. Ludwig AI suggests that this phrase is acceptable in written English for estimating time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

22%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Around twenty years" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate an approximate duration of two decades. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's appropriate for a wide range of contexts, including news, science, and academic writing, where precision is not crucial. While there are several alternatives, such as "approximately two decades" or "about twenty years", the choice often comes down to stylistic preference. Remember to avoid using it when an exact timeframe is required. The phrase has a neutral tone and is widely understood, as highlighted by its presence in authoritative sources such as The New Yorker and BBC.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Approximately two decades

Uses a more formal term ('decades') and 'approximately' for a similar estimate.

About twenty years

Replaces 'around' with 'about', offering a slightly less formal alternative.

Roughly twenty years

Substitutes 'around' with 'roughly', conveying a similar sense of approximation.

Nearly two decades

Focuses on the nearing of the two-decade mark.

Twenty or so years

A more casual way to express an approximate duration of twenty years.

In the vicinity of twenty years

Uses a more verbose and formal construction to indicate an approximate timeframe.

In the neighborhood of twenty years

Employs a colloquial expression to suggest an approximate duration.

Two decades give or take

An idiomatic expression indicating a period close to twenty years.

Twenty years in the ballpark

An idiomatic expression indicating a timeframe close to twenty years.

Plus or minus a couple of decades

Explicitly states the potential for deviation around the twenty-year mark.

FAQs

How can I use "Around twenty years" in a sentence?

You can use "Around twenty years" to indicate an approximate duration. For example, "The technology has improved significantly in "around twenty years"."

What are some alternatives to saying "Around twenty years"?

Alternatives include "approximately two decades", "about twenty years", or "roughly twenty years" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "In around twenty years"?

While understandable, "in around twenty years" is less common. "In about twenty years" or simply ""around twenty years"" are more standard.

What is the difference between "About twenty years" and "Around twenty years"?

The difference is negligible; both ""about twenty years"" and ""around twenty years"" indicate an approximation. The choice often depends on personal preference or stylistic considerations.