a quarter million

USAGE SUMMARY

"a quarter million" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use it to express an amount of something in large numbers. For example, "We raised a quarter million dollars for charity last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

A quarter million copies were sold.

The Washington Post

It has about a quarter million subscribers already.

The New York Times

It smashes its genome into roughly a quarter million DNA pieces and then rebuilds it.

Columbia University

"The Arab neighborhoods in which close to a quarter million Palestinians live will be theirs.

The New York Times

There are about two and a quarter million people in Paris.

The New Yorker

You're probably wondering what kind of computer is worth close to a quarter million dollars?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

And he's a quarter-million dollars in the hole.

The New York Times

Today a quarter-million Israelis live in the West Bank.

The New York Times

The total cost, it said, was almost a quarter-million dollars.

The New Yorker

More than 3,000 people died and more than a quarter-million were left homeless.

The New York Times

2) Double-dipping gets him a quarter-million in state salary and pension combined.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about money, consider the currency: "a quarter million dollars" is different from "a quarter million euros". Make sure the currency is clear.

Common error

Avoid using "a quarter million" when precision is essential. If exact figures are known, use the numerical value (e.g., 250,000) instead to prevent ambiguity or misrepresentation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a quarter million" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate an approximate quantity of 250,000. This is supported by Ludwig, which shows the phrase used to describe numbers of people, dollars, or other countable items.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

23%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a quarter million" is a common and grammatically correct way to express an approximate quantity of 250,000. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and notes its use across diverse contexts. This phrase is most frequently used in news media, science, and academic writing, making it versatile for general communication. While suitable for estimations, remember to use precise numerical values when accuracy is paramount. Alternatives like "250,000" or "two hundred fifty thousand" offer varying levels of formality and precision, making "a quarter million" an efficient and acceptable term for conveying scale.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

250000

Numerical representation of the quantity, less descriptive but more precise.

two hundred fifty thousand

Full numerical expression, offering a more formal tone.

approximately 250k

Abbreviated form, suitable for informal contexts where precision is not critical.

around a quarter of a million

Adds slight imprecision, suitable when an exact number isn't known or necessary.

in the neighborhood of 250000

Informal expression indicating an approximate amount.

a substantial number

Less specific, indicating a large but undefined quantity.

hundreds of thousands

Broader range, encompassing values significantly above a quarter million.

a significant amount

Vague, suitable when the exact quantity is unimportant or unknown.

considerable quantity

More formal and vague, indicating a notable but unspecified amount.

not a small number

Understated way of indicating a significant quantity.

FAQs

How do I use "a quarter million" in a sentence?

You can use "a quarter million" to describe a quantity that is approximately 250,000. For instance, "The city has a quarter million residents" or "The project cost a quarter million dollars".

What are some alternatives to saying "a quarter million"?

Alternatives include "250000", "two hundred fifty thousand", or "approximately 250k", depending on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is it correct to say "one quarter million" instead of "a quarter million"?

While "one quarter million" isn't incorrect, "a quarter million" is the more common and natural phrasing in English.

When should I use the numerical value (250,000) instead of "a quarter million"?

Use the numerical value when you need to be precise. "A quarter million" is suitable for general descriptions, but exact figures are better for financial reports or scientific data.