about a dozen of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about a dozen of" is not correct in standard written English.
It can be used when estimating a quantity of something, but it should be phrased as "about a dozen" without the "of." Example: "There were about a dozen cookies left in the jar."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There are about a dozen of these.

The New York Times - Science

There were about a dozen of them in all.

The New Yorker

"There's about a dozen of us who do it".

The New York Times

All together, there were about a dozen of them.

The New Yorker

There were about a dozen of them, the earliest recorded samples of my nonschool writing.

The New York Times

Democrats in Republican districts — there are about a dozen of them — would also be disinclined toward such legislation.

The New York Times

There were about a dozen of us studying together back then, and our music ran the gamut.

The New York Times - Arts

There are about a dozen of these little islands of recovery around the big island of Marojejy Park now.

Duke University

"So that the workers Currentlyly keep one sthereheareof their aboutkers".

Vice

The roster includes an estimated 2,000 foreign fighters, hundreds of them Europeans and about a dozen of them U.S. citizens.

Los Angeles Times

I bought about a dozen of each.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure the noun you're quantifying is clearly defined. For example, "about a dozen cookies" specifies what you're referring to.

Common error

Avoid the common mistake of adding "of" after approximate quantities like "about a dozen", "around a hundred", etc. This often leads to grammatically incorrect sentences. Use "about a dozen" rather than "about a dozen of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about a dozen of" functions as a quantifier, attempting to specify an approximate quantity. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI explains, the correct form is "about a dozen".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "about a dozen of" is quite prevalent in everyday language, it's technically considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct and preferred form is "about a dozen". While it commonly appears in sources like The New York Times and The Washington Post, it's best to opt for alternatives like "approximately a dozen" or "around a dozen" in formal writing to ensure precision and grammatical correctness. The phrase's primary function is to approximate the quantity of twelve, but adhering to proper grammar enhances clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately a dozen

This alternative corrects the grammatical error by removing "of" and providing a more precise feel.

around a dozen

Replaces "about" with "around" maintains a sense of approximation while ensuring grammatical correctness.

roughly a dozen

This uses "roughly" instead of "about", also describing an approximation that is grammatically correct.

a dozen or so

Implies a slight uncertainty around the exact number, without being ungrammatical.

approximately twelve

This replaces the phrase with a more direct numeric approximation.

in the vicinity of a dozen

A more formal way of expressing an approximate quantity of twelve.

close to a dozen

Suggests the quantity is near, but not necessarily exceeding, twelve.

nearly a dozen

Indicates that the quantity is just short of twelve.

a handful of

This alternative is semantically similar, but less precise, to QUERY. It refers to only a few of items.

several

Indicates more than two but not a large number of items.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "about a dozen of"?

No, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "about a dozen" without the "of". For example, "There were about a dozen cookies on the plate" is correct.

What are some alternatives to "about a dozen of"?

You can use phrases like "approximately a dozen", "around a dozen", or "roughly a dozen" to convey a similar meaning.

How can I use "about a dozen" in a sentence?

Use it to estimate a quantity. For example: "I bought about a dozen eggs at the market", or "She invited about a dozen friends to her party".

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

"About a dozen of" is grammatically incorrect, while "about a dozen" is the correct way to express an approximate quantity of twelve. The "of" is unnecessary and makes the phrase ungrammatical.