a size of about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a size of about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when providing an approximate measurement or dimension of an object or entity. Example: "The package is a size of about 10 inches by 12 inches."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A size of about 10cm is a popular size to serve as an individual portion or a starter.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

On October 6, 2008, the asteroid 2008 TC3, which had a size of about 5 metres (16 feet), was discovered.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As usual, rapid demobilization followed the Civil War, and by 1875 the U.S. Army had shrunk to a size of about 25,000 troops.

Encyclopedia Britannica

When the droplets or crystals coalesce to a size of about 10−2 centimetre in diameter, the drops become heavy enough to fall as raindrops or snowflakes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most do not exceed a size of about 30 cm (1 foot), but some may grow to four times that length.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In general, a size of about 2 4 inches (5 cm–10 cm) is acceptable.

Visualization in Engineering

With the resolution given above, B knm has a size of about 180,000.

Earth, Planets and Space

The field of view of each image has a size of about 120″ × 120″.

Geoscience Letters

An image has a size of about 2 MB with 14-bit resolution.

Earth, Planets and Space

The field of view of the image has a size of about 160″ × 165″.

Geoscience Letters

A single mRNA transcript of a size of about 4 kb was found in the goldfish liver.

Gene

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a size of about", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being measured. For instance, specify whether it's length, width, area, or volume for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a size of about" without providing specific units of measurement. For example, instead of saying "it was a size of about 10", specify "it was a size of about 10 cm".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a size of about" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun. It provides an approximate dimension or measurement of something. According to Ludwig, it is considered grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a size of about" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to indicate an approximate measurement or dimension. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, especially science, news and media, and encyclopedias, but one should ensure clarity by specifying the units of measurement. While it's generally neutral in register, consider more formal alternatives like "approximately" or "on the order of" in technical writing. Common mistakes include using the phrase without specifying the units being measured. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its versatile usage in describing sizes across different domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately sized at

This alternative uses "approximately" to emphasize the inexact nature of the measurement and replaces "size of about" with the verb construction "sized at".

roughly the dimensions of

This phrase uses "roughly" to indicate approximation and substitutes "size" with "dimensions", providing a slightly more formal tone.

in the neighborhood of

This idiomatic phrase replaces "a size of about" with a more conversational expression indicating an approximate value.

in the vicinity of

Similar to "in the neighborhood of", this option offers a less common, slightly more formal alternative for expressing approximation.

on the order of

This phrase is more often used in scientific or technical contexts, indicating an approximate magnitude or scale.

something like

This alternative is more informal, suitable for casual conversation, and expresses an approximation.

more or less sized at

This phrase indicates that there can be small variations in the size.

around the magnitude of

This option replaces 'size' with 'magnitude', emphasizing the scale, and uses 'around' for approximation.

in the approximate range of

This phrasing replaces 'about' for 'in the approximate range of' making the sentence a bit more extended.

close to the measurement of

This alternative uses the word 'close' to indicate approximation, and it uses the word 'measurement' to state what is being approximated.

FAQs

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

You can use "a size of about" to give an approximate measurement. For example, "The room was "a size of about" 10 square meters".

What's a more formal way to say "a size of about"?

For a more formal tone, you can use alternatives like "approximately sized at" or "in the vicinity of".

Is it okay to use "a size of about" in academic writing?

Yes, it's acceptable, but in scientific writing, consider using "on the order of" when referring to magnitudes, as it's more precise.

What are some informal alternatives to "a size of about"?

Informally, you could say "something like" or "roughly the dimensions of".