a dozen or so

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a dozen or so' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe an approximate number of something. For example: "She bought a dozen or so apples at the store."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"A dozen or so," I said.

The New Yorker

A dozen or so houses, if that.

The Guardian - Travel

A dozen or so billboards followed.

The New York Times

I saw a dozen or so.

The Guardian

Sontag wrote only a dozen or so articles about film.

The New Yorker

We had just about a dozen or so.

Independent

A dozen or so villagers crowded a veranda.

The New Yorker

A dozen or so officials hovered nearby to watch.

The New York Times - Sports

A dozen or so financial companies would contribute that money.

The New York Times

They will be split into a dozen or so teams.

The Economist

As usual, only a dozen or so prisoners showed up.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a dozen or so" when you want to indicate an approximate quantity of around twelve, without needing to be precise. It's suitable for informal and general contexts where exact numbers aren't critical.

Common error

Avoid using "a dozen or so" in formal reports or academic papers where precise figures are expected. Opt for more exact numbers or qualifiers like 'approximately twelve' to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dozen or so" functions as a quantifier, specifically an approximate numeral. It modifies a noun to indicate an estimated quantity of around twelve. As Ludwig highlights, the expression is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a dozen or so" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate an approximate quantity of around twelve. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase is widely accepted in written English and suitable for various contexts, particularly news and media. While versatile, it's best to avoid in formal or academic writing where precision is key. For such situations, alternatives like "approximately twelve" or "about a dozen" may be more appropriate. Always consider your audience and the required level of precision when choosing whether or not to use this handy expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about a dozen

Omits the 'or so' for a slightly more precise, yet still approximate, quantity.

roughly a dozen

Replaces 'or so' with 'roughly', keeping the approximation casual and conversational.

around twelve

Uses a simpler preposition to indicate approximation, suitable for informal contexts.

approximately twelve

Replaces the idiomatic expression with a more direct and formal numerical approximation.

in the neighborhood of twelve

Provides a more descriptive and somewhat formal way of expressing an approximate number.

a group of about twelve

Emphasizes that the quantity refers to a grouping or collection.

twelve or thereabouts

Offers a folksier, less common alternative to indicate a rough estimate.

a few more than ten

Breaks down the quantity to emphasize it's slightly above a readily recognizable number.

a baker's dozen, give or take

Offers a more colourful expression and emphasizes there is uncertainty.

a score less eight

Uses less common words to denote a similar quantity

FAQs

How can I use "a dozen or so" in a sentence?

You can use "a dozen or so" to indicate an approximate quantity. For example, "I bought "a dozen or so" eggs from the store" means you bought approximately twelve eggs.

What's a more formal alternative to "a dozen or so"?

If you need to be more precise, consider using alternatives like "approximately twelve", "around twelve", or "about a dozen". These options offer a slightly more formal tone than "a dozen or so".

Is it appropriate to use "a dozen or so" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "a dozen or so" may be too informal for academic writing. In such contexts, using more precise language or alternatives like "approximately twelve" is advisable.

What's the difference between "a dozen" and "a dozen or so"?

"A dozen" refers specifically to the number 12. "A dozen or so", on the other hand, indicates an approximate quantity around 12, suggesting the number could be slightly more or less than exactly 12.