about right

USAGE SUMMARY

"about right" is a commonly used phrase in written English.
It is a colloquial way of saying that something is close to being accurate or correct. Example: "Do you think the temperature setting on the thermostat is about right? It feels a bit chilly in here." In this example, the speaker is asking if the temperature is close to the desired setting.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sounds about right.

The New York Times

That seemed about right.

The New York Times - Arts

It feels about right.

Independent

That sounded about right.

The New York Times

That seems about right.

The New York Times

That sounds about right.

The New York Times - Sports

Sound about right?

The New York Times

Which sounds about right.

The Economist

That's about right.

The New York Times

Sounds about right to me.

The New York Times

It's about right and wrong".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about right" when you want to express a general agreement or approximation without committing to a precise value or statement.

Common error

While "about right" is widely understood, avoid using it in highly formal writing or professional settings where more precise language is expected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about right" primarily functions as an adjective phrase used to express agreement, approximation, or acceptance of a statement or estimation. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in everyday language.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "about right" is a versatile phrase used to express agreement or approximation. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news and media contexts. While it's widely understood, it's best to reserve it for neutral to informal situations. For more formal writing, consider alternatives like "approximately correct" or "largely accurate". Remember that while "about right" is often used to show agreement, context always matters.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately correct

This alternative uses more formal language to express that something is close to being accurate.

that seems correct

It replaces the word "about" in "about right" for a slightly stronger affirmation.

pretty accurate

This suggests a slightly higher degree of accuracy than "about right".

more or less correct

This implies that while there might be minor inaccuracies, the overall assessment is accurate.

largely accurate

Indicates that the majority of something is correct, with only small errors.

in the right ballpark

This idiom suggests that an estimate or guess is close to the actual value.

on the right track

This means that progress is being made in the right direction.

sounds reasonable

This suggests that something is logical and acceptable.

seems fair

This expresses that something is just and equitable.

that's my assessment

It conveys the idea of agreeing with an evaluation of sorts.

FAQs

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

You can use "about right" to express agreement with an assessment or approximation, such as, "Do you think this temperature is "about right" for the cake to bake evenly?"

What is a more formal alternative to "about right"?

In formal contexts, you could use phrases like "approximately correct", "largely accurate", or "generally in agreement" instead of "about right".

Is it always appropriate to use "about right" in written communication?

While "about right" is common, consider your audience and the context. For academic or business writing, opting for a more precise term may be preferable.

What does "about right" mean in the context of estimations?

When estimating, "about right" suggests that a value or quantity is close to the actual amount, without needing to be exact.