a return of about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a return of about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an estimated or approximate return on investment or similar financial contexts. Example: "The investment yielded a return of about 10% over the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

"The way the price system works Thames Water will then be getting a return of about 14% upon their share value, just because of the tunnel".

BBC

More realistically, according to T. Rowe Price, investors might expect a return of about 8percentt a year.

The New York Times

And so far, his strategy has paid off: Providence Equity says it has produced a return of about 70percentt a year, on average, since it was founded in 1991, appearing to outperform its better-known coterie of rivals including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, the Blackstone Group and the Carlyle Group.

The New York Times

Historically, U.S. stocks have averaged a return of about 10percentt a year, but they have not gotten there in a straight line, producing 10percentt year-in and year-out.

Huffington Post

That investment reaped a return of about $5 billion.

The New York Times

If things go well, Blackstone will receive a return of about 15 percent, these people say.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

As I write, MCD has a total return of about 16% since Jan . 1

Forbes

The company has $315 million under management and claims an average return of about 11% in its growth accounts last year.

Forbes

All this raises the question: Is now a time for a return of pessimism about Africa?

The New York Times

That gives you an annualized rate of return of about 11% during that period of time whereas Miami's historical average is about 3%.

Forbes

Analysts attributed the sell-off to profit taking rather than a return of investor anxiety about stocks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For formal documents, provide a specific percentage or value if possible, followed by "approximately" or "around" for clarity, like "a return of 10%, approximately".

Common error

Avoid presenting "a return of about" as a guaranteed outcome. Emphasize that it's an estimate, especially when discussing potential investments or future earnings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a return of about" functions as a modifier, specifically quantifying and qualifying the noun "return". It indicates the magnitude of the return is approximate and not exact. This is supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a return of about" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression to indicate an approximate or estimated financial return. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a neutral phrase suitable for various contexts, particularly in news reporting, business analysis, and general financial discussions. While it conveys a degree of uncertainty, using it appropriately sets realistic expectations. Be mindful not to present it as a guarantee. Instead, reinforce its nature as an estimate, and replace it with phrases like "approximately a return of" or "an estimated return of" to be more precise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately a return of

Adds emphasis on the approximate nature of the return.

a yield of roughly

Replaces "return" with "yield", focusing on the income generated from an investment.

an estimated return of

Specifies that the return is an estimate, rather than a precise figure.

a profit margin close to

Focuses on profitability rather than general return, suitable for business contexts.

an income of around

Shifts focus to the monetary income received.

in the neighborhood of

Uses a more informal idiom to indicate approximation.

something in the vicinity of

Similar to "in the neighborhood of", indicating a rough estimate.

in the ballpark of

An idiomatic expression for approximation, implying a value close to the stated figure.

roughly equivalent to a return of

Indicates the return is comparable to something else.

more or less a return of

Emphasizes the approximate nature with a slight uncertainty.

FAQs

How do I use "a return of about" in a sentence?

Use "a return of about" when you want to indicate an estimated or approximate return on an investment or activity. For example, "The project is expected to generate "a return of about" 15%."

What's the difference between "a return of about" and "an exact return of"?

"A return of about" suggests an approximation, while "an exact return of" implies a precise figure. Choose "a return of about" when the exact number isn't known or isn't crucial for the context.

Which is more appropriate, "a return of about" or "a precise return of" when describing investment outcomes?

"A return of about" is often more appropriate because investment outcomes are rarely precisely predictable. "A precise return of" is suitable only when reporting historical data with certainty.

Are there alternatives to "a return of about" that sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "an estimated return of", "an approximate return of", or "a projected return of". These alternatives still convey the idea of an estimation while maintaining a professional tone. You can also use "approximately a return of".