about this much

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about this much" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate measurement or quantity, often accompanied by a gesture or visual representation. Example: "When asked how tall the plant had grown, she held her hands apart and said, 'It's about this much.'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

It is about THIS much worse than last year's Pet Shop Boys medley.

The Guardian - Music

Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, then on a lower rung of leadership, was tormented by House freshmen who were trying to use spending agreements to undo social policy, lamenting that "you can't bring about this much change without a lot of listening and hand-holding".

The New York Times

They cost about this much.

The New York Times

We don't talk about this much.

The New York Times

Lakshman did not think about this much.

The New Yorker

And we sell them about this much stuff every year.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

But my curiosity about this much-ballyhooed club won out.

The New York Times - Travel

I take issue with Ms. MacKinnon's views about this much-needed rogue sites legislation.

The New York Times

Forget what you think you know about this much-misunderstood town.

The New York Times

But what first impresses about this much-touted event is the direction by Daniel Evans.

The Guardian

This is the weird thing about this much-mourned form: it is sad it is gone, but also, there is no point in trying to recover it.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ the phrase in abstract contexts to quantify degree, such as the amount of change or public attention a topic receives.

Common error

Do not use "about this much" if you have already provided a specific numerical unit unless you are clarifying a previously mentioned abstract volume. For example, saying "It weighs 5kg, about this much" is redundant unless you are visually comparing the weight to something else.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about this much" functions as an adverbial quantifier or a determinative phrase. It combines the preposition/adverb "about" (indicating approximation) with the demonstrative "this" and the quantifier "much". In the examples provided by Ludwig, it frequently modifies verbs like "talk", "think" or "cost" to indicate the extent or degree of an action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about this much" is a highly flexible and correct English expression used to indicate an approximate quantity or degree. As demonstrated by Ludwig AI, it is particularly effective in narratives where a visual or metaphorical reference point is established. It bridges the gap between literal physical measurement and abstract quantification of concepts like effort, attention or change. While it is widely accepted across various media—including elite publications like The New Yorker and The New York Times—it is most powerful when used to provide a sense of scale rather than specific data. Writers should be mindful to use "much" for uncountable quantities and avoid redundancy when exact measurements are already available.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately this much

Increases formality and suggests a more technical or precise approximation.

around this much

A very close synonym often used interchangeably in neutral contexts.

roughly this much

Emphasizes the lack of precision, often used in informal or rapid estimates.

just about this much

Adds emphasis to the approximation, often implying it is very close to the target.

close to this much

Focuses on the proximity to a specific measurement or visual cue.

something like this much

Adds a layer of hesitation or casual estimation to the statement.

this much

Removes the approximation, suggesting a direct or exact reference.

nearly this much

Indicates that the amount is slightly less than the reference point.

about this many

Changes the quantification from an uncountable mass to a countable number of items.

effectively this much

Suggests that while not exact, the practical result or impact is equivalent to this amount.

FAQs

How to use "about this much" in a sentence?

You can use it to quantify an abstract amount or a physical size, for example: "The project will require "about this much" effort from the team."

What can I say instead of "about this much"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately this much", "around this much" or "roughly this much" depending on the level of formality you need.

What is the difference between "about this much" and "about this many"?

Use "about this much" for uncountable nouns like water, effort or money and use "about this many" for countable items like people, cars or books.

Is "about this much" considered formal?

It is generally neutral but leans toward informal because it often relies on a visual reference. In academic writing, "approximately this amount" is often preferred.