a change of about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a change of about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an approximate alteration in quantity, value, or condition. Example: "There was a change of about 10 degrees in temperature from morning to afternoon."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

This was equivalent to a change of about 14% and 10% in KCRI and LCRI (Table 3), and 18%, 20 %, 7, and 17% for KLD, LLD, MRP, and MLX, respectively, from their initial Ptot baseline values (Table 4).

BioMed Research International

It was a change of about 10 to 12 inches.

The New York Times - Sports

The magnitude scale is logarithmic, with a difference of one magnitude corresponding to a change of about 2.5 times in brightness.

Harvard University

Effective immediately, the government added, the yuan had been revalued and had appreciated, from about 8.28 to the dollar to 8.11 -- a change of about 2.1percentt.

The New York Times

But if the price rose by $10 a share, a change of about 19percentthethe value of the options would leap 73percentto to $6.1 million.

The New York Times

Across the country, 9 million people — or 2.9 percent of the population — chose more than one race on the last census, a change of about 32 percent since 2000.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Mainly, it is about a change of habits, about finding new ways to be much more productive with less effort, so that we can focus on more complex tasks.

The New York Times

The span in Washington included an elevation change of about 5,000 feet, and the terrain required crews and equipment to be delivered by helicopter.

The Washington Post

New beginnings are often about having a change of attitude about ourselves.

Huffington Post

For a change of pace, how about this one.

Huffington Post

The movie, about a former Planned Parenthood clinic director who quit after a change of heart about abortion, came out on March 29, to scant but mostly unfavorable reviews.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a change of about", ensure the context provides a clear baseline for comparison. This helps the reader understand the magnitude and significance of the change being discussed.

Common error

Be careful when rounding values used with "a change of about". Overly precise rounding can undermine the sense of approximation, while excessive rounding can obscure important details. Find a balance that accurately reflects the uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a change of about" functions as a prepositional modifier, typically used to qualify nouns or noun phrases by indicating an approximate degree of alteration or difference. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it's frequently used in scientific and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a change of about" is a versatile phrase used to describe an approximate difference or alteration. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is grammatically correct and appears frequently in both scientific and journalistic contexts. The phrase functions as a prepositional modifier, offering a general sense of the magnitude of a change without implying absolute precision. When using "a change of about", ensure that the context is clear and that any rounding is appropriate to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases like "approximately a change" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a shift of approximately

Substitutes "change" with "shift" and "about" with "approximately", conveying a slightly more precise nuance.

a difference of nearly

Uses "difference" instead of "change" and "nearly" for "about", highlighting the disparity between two values.

an approximate alteration of

Replaces "change" with a more formal synonym and includes "approximate" for emphasis.

a fluctuation of almost

Substitutes "change" with "fluctuation" and "about" with "almost", suitable for describing variable quantities.

a variation of roughly

Uses "variation" instead of "change" and "roughly" in place of "about", offering a less formal alternative.

a modification of around

Employs "modification" for "change" and "around" for "about", suitable for technical contexts.

an adjustment of close to

Replaces "change" with "adjustment" and "about" with "close to", suggesting a minor correction.

a revision of something like

Employs "revision" for "change" and "something like" for "about", conveying a degree of uncertainty.

a transformation of in the ballpark of

Replaces "change" with "transformation" and "about" with "in the ballpark of", offering an informal alternative.

a swing of in the neighborhood of

Replaces "change" with "swing" and "about" with "in the neighborhood of", offering an informal alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "a change of about" in a sentence?

You can use "a change of about" to describe an approximate difference or alteration. For example, "There was a change of about 10% in the stock price".

What phrases are similar to "a change of about"?

Similar phrases include "approximately a change", "a shift of roughly", or "a variation of nearly".

Is it better to use "a change of about" or "an approximate change of"?

Both "a change of about" and "an approximate change of" are correct, but "a change of about" is more concise. The best choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

What's the difference between "a change of about" and "exactly a change of"?

"A change of about" indicates an estimated change, while "exactly a change of" implies a precise and measured alteration. They should not be used interchangeably.