amass about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amass about" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used when referring to gathering or accumulating something, but it is better to use a more common expression. Example: "He managed to amass about a thousand followers on social media in just a few weeks."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Mr. Lin said Vonage needed to amass about five million customers to become profitable.

The New York Times - Tech

While the country may lack a single, federal online privacy law, the agency still has managed to tap its powers to punish tech giants such as Facebook, Google, Twitter and Uber for failing to protect the sensitive information they amass about their users.

The Washington Post

It has maintained that trajectory in the last 15 years and has grown to amass about 10 million subscribers spread across Zimbabwe, Botswana, Burundi and Lesotho.

Forbes

First, there is the emphasis on big data, and the need for companies to start to get smarter about how they (responsibly and non-abusively) use all the information that they amass about their customers.

TechCrunch

No matter how much knowledge we amass about the ways of the universe, there will always be more concepts and phenomena to demystify.

Vice

He will draw some votes away from Mr. Hernández, Mr. Villeda, and Mrs. Zelaya, but even if he were to take away 10percentt (a tough proposition) from the base of each of his main opponents and carve out his own niche of support from the remaining 380,000 voters, Mr. Nasralla could only amass about 660,000 votes.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The tourism sector, which amassed about $6 billion in 2010, a boom year, has been decimated.

The New York Times

During his Senate run, he amassed about $15 million, with about a fifth of his contributions coming from New York.

The New York Times

Does it create a viable test of quality based on the amount of informa tion amassed about an object?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The FBI said it amassed about 7,800 smartphones in a single year that it couldn't access due to encryption.

Stanford University

"I've been looking at doors for two years," says Rosen, who amassed about 500 images of doors alone.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing quantities, consider using more precise language such as "approximately", "roughly", or specific numerical ranges instead of "about" to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "about" excessively with "amass", as it can make the sentence sound imprecise. Opt for stronger verbs like "accumulate" or "gather" and specify quantities when possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "amass about" functions as a verb phrase indicating the accumulation of something to an approximate quantity. It combines the action of gathering with an estimation of the amount. Ludwig AI indicates that the construction is acceptable but could benefit from more precise alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "amass about" is used to describe the action of gathering something in an approximate quantity. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig suggests that it can sometimes sound redundant or imprecise and that more specific alternatives exist. It is most commonly found in News & Media contexts. Consider using synonyms like "gather approximately" or specifying a numerical range for greater clarity. Ludwig AI analysis reveals that this phrase, while understood, may benefit from more polished alternatives in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gather approximately

Replaces "amass" with "gather" and "about" with "approximately", maintaining a similar level of precision.

accumulate roughly

Substitutes "amass" with "accumulate" and "about" with "roughly", suggesting a collection that is not precisely counted.

collect around

Uses "collect" instead of "amass" and "around" in place of "about" to imply a more general accumulation.

garner approximately

Replaces "amass" with "garner" and "about" with "approximately", indicating a gradual gathering, often of something intangible.

compile roughly

Substitutes "amass" with "compile" and "about" with "roughly", suggesting a collection of information or data.

build up approximately

Uses "build up" instead of "amass" and "approximately" in place of "about" to imply a gradual increase over time.

obtain around

Replaces "amass" with "obtain" and "about" with "around", indicating the acquisition of something without necessarily implying a large quantity.

secure roughly

Substitutes "amass" with "secure" and "about" with "roughly", suggesting that the collection was a deliberate effort.

round up to

Uses "round up to" instead of "amass about", implying an estimation to the nearest whole number or unit.

total approximately

Replaces "amass" with "total" and "about" with "approximately", focusing on the final sum or count of something.

FAQs

What does "amass" mean?

"Amass" means to gather together or accumulate (a large amount of material or things) over a period of time. It suggests a gradual collection.

Is "amass about" redundant?

While not strictly incorrect, "amass about" can sound slightly redundant. Consider using alternatives like "gather approximately" or "accumulate roughly" for improved clarity.

How can I use "amass" in a sentence?

You can use "amass" in sentences like: "The company managed to amass a significant fortune over the years" or "Researchers have amassed a large amount of data on the subject".

What are some synonyms for "amass"?

Synonyms for "amass" include "accumulate", "gather", "collect", "pile up", "build up", and "garner".