I acquired about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I acquired about" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "I inquired about"? If this is the case, you can use it when you want to ask for information regarding a specific topic or subject. Example: "I inquired about the new project during the meeting yesterday."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

During the course of the weeks of voting I acquired about 2,000 new Facebook friends.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

From 2010 to 2014 it acquired about $400 billion in foreign currencies (its total reserves are now $530 billion).

The Economist

I'd acquired about 300 new followers.

The Guardian

Under the terms of the deal, GE Capital will acquire about $7.5 billion of MetLife's deposits.

The New York Times

The Conservation Fund will acquire about 5,000 acres in Florida and 500 acres in North Carolina.

Forbes

Anthracite's SEC filings say it plans to acquire about $1.5 billion in assets backed by just $300 million in equity.

Forbes

I acquired such anxiety about Christianity, and yet I felt myself strongly drawn toward it.

The New Yorker

Instead I acquired almost everything I know about language in Latin classes – and wasn't I lucky to have them?

Independent

Back in the spring I acquired some Bitcoins - well about half a Bitcoin - to carry out an experiment on behalf of Radio 4's PM programme.

BBC

It was acquired about 12 months after I led NEA's investment for about a 2.5x return.

TechCrunch

It also has acquired about another $3.8bn in military-grade purchases.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "acquired about" in formal writing. Instead, use more precise language such as "acquired approximately", or rephrase to "obtained around" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

A common mistake is using "about" directly after "acquired" to indicate approximation. To correct this, replace "acquired about" with "acquired approximately" or use alternative phrasing like "obtained around" for better grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I acquired about" functions as part of a sentence where the subject (I) is performing the action of acquiring. However, the addition of "about" directly after "acquired" creates a grammatical error, as it's intended to modify the quantity acquired but is improperly placed. Ludwig AI analysis indicates the phrase "is not correct".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I acquired about" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect. While it appears across various contexts, including news, science and media, it's best to replace it with grammatically sound alternatives like "I acquired approximately" or "I obtained around". Using clearer and more precise language enhances the credibility and clarity of your writing. Remember to avoid this common mistake by ensuring correct placement of adverbs and using appropriate alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I obtained approximately

Replaces "acquired about" with a more formal and grammatically sound alternative using "obtained" and "approximately".

I gained roughly

Uses "gained" as a synonym for "acquired" and "roughly" for "about", providing a slightly less formal tone.

I came into possession of around

Offers a more verbose but correct way to express acquiring something, suitable for formal contexts.

I secured approximately

Emphasizes the effort in acquiring something, using "secured" and "approximately".

I picked up approximately

Suggests acquiring something casually or informally, using "picked up" and "approximately".

I received about

Focuses on the act of receiving, suitable when the acquisition is passive.

I accumulated approximately

Highlights a gradual increase in quantity, using "accumulated" and "approximately".

I gathered around

Implies collecting items from different sources; conveys the idea of collecting through a process.

I amassed roughly

Conveys the idea of collecting or gathering a significant quantity of something.

I collected approximately

Focuses on the action of gathering or bringing things together.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I acquired about"?

You can use alternatives like "I acquired approximately", "I obtained around", or "I gained roughly depending on the context.

Which is correct, "I acquired about" or "I acquired approximately"?

"I acquired approximately" is the grammatically correct phrase. "I acquired about" "is not correct" in standard English.

How can I use "acquired" to indicate an estimate or approximation?

To indicate an approximation, use "acquired approximately" or rephrase your sentence using words like "around" or "roughly". For example, "I acquired approximately 200 shares" or "I acquired around 200 shares".

Is "I obtained about" a correct alternative to "I acquired about"?

While not as common, "I obtained about" is slightly better, but "I obtained approximately" is the more grammatically sound and preferred alternative.