about two dozen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about two dozen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when estimating a quantity that is close to twenty-four items. Example: "We received about two dozen responses to the survey, which was more than we expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He estimates he has about two dozen films to go.

The New York Times - Arts

There were about two dozen Republican congressmen at the field.

The New Yorker

It took about two dozen to lift the trailer.

The New York Times

He had about two dozen of those cardigans.

The New York Times - Arts

Today there about two dozen kosher ones left.

The New York Times

Baqir typically has about two dozen students involved in tickets at Cal Performances.

University of California, Berkeley

Craigslist only has about two dozen employees.

Forbes

Only seven French companies trade on the NYSE (compared with about two dozen British firms).

Forbes

There are about two dozen common stories.

HuffPost

The entire crowd of about two dozen obliged.

Los Angeles Times

Last month, I think we had about two dozen in total that wouldn't allow them to be electronically submitted.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about two dozen" when you want to provide an estimate that's easily understandable, avoiding the need for precise counting.

Common error

Avoid using "about two dozen" when precision is required; it implies an approximation around 24, not necessarily an exact number. If you require the exact number, state "twenty-four."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about two dozen" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, indicating an approximate quantity. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and frequently used in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

21%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "about two dozen" is a common and grammatically sound way to express an approximate quantity of 24. As Ludwig AI confirms, its broad applicability across news, academic, and everyday conversation makes it a versatile choice for writers and speakers. While generally neutral in tone, it's best to opt for precise numbers when exactness is crucial. Be mindful of its use in formal writing, and ensure it accurately reflects the intended level of approximation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately twenty-four

Replaces the idiomatic "about two dozen" with a more formal and precise numerical approximation.

roughly two dozen

Substitutes "about" with "roughly", maintaining the informal approximation.

around twenty-four

Uses "around" instead of "about", indicating an approximate quantity close to twenty-four.

in the neighborhood of two dozen

More descriptive and less direct, but still conveys the same approximate quantity.

nearly two dozen

Suggests the quantity is slightly less than two dozen.

almost two dozen

Similar to "nearly two dozen", indicating the quantity is just short of twenty-four.

a couple dozen

Uses "a couple" which is less precise than "about", implying slightly less accuracy.

twenty or so

Simplifies to "twenty or so", providing a less precise approximation.

over twenty

Indicates a quantity slightly exceeding twenty, which is close to two dozen.

a little over twenty

Adds "a little" to emphasize that the quantity is slightly more than twenty.

FAQs

What does "about two dozen" mean?

The phrase "about two dozen" means approximately 24. It's used to indicate an estimated quantity, rather than an exact number.

What can I say instead of "about two dozen"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately twenty-four", "roughly two dozen", or "around twenty-four" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "about two dozen" in formal writing?

While "about two dozen" is widely understood, in very formal writing, it's often better to use a more precise phrase like "approximately twenty-four" to maintain a higher degree of accuracy.

How accurate is the approximation "about two dozen"?

The approximation "about two dozen" suggests the quantity is close to 24, but there's an implied margin of error. The exact range can vary slightly depending on the context.