approaching more than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approaching more than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that a quantity or value is nearing or exceeding a certain threshold. Example: "The project is approaching more than 100 hours of work, which is significantly higher than our initial estimate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But after approaching "more than 50″ potential buyers, Dynegy's advisers came up empty.

The New York Times

But after approaching "more than 50" potential suitors, Dynegy's advisers failed to find a buyer.

The New York Times

The lines formed each morning in the darkness at 3. By 5 30, with dawn approaching, more than 100 people waited outside the neighborhood bottling station.

The New York Times

But with student debt approaching more than $1.2 trillion, particularly at a time when young graduates are facing high unemployment, it's not that surprising that some people find the idea alluring.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He eventually approached more than 70 companies for help, nearly all of it in-kind.

The New York Times

Detectives approached more than 2,000 potential witnesses and interviewed more than 25 men who claim they were abused by Greville Janner in their youth.

The Guardian

A consultant hired by Mr. Wilson approached more than a dozen venture capital firms over four months about financing the start-up, and none showed interest.

The New York Times

But an auction held by the company ended last month with no credible offers even after the its investment bank, Jefferies & Company, had approached more than 30 potential bidders.

The New York Times

But as winter rains approached, more than 5,000 cottages were built by union carpenters to house 15,000 of the 250,000 people who had been left homeless.

The New York Times

Second, only a small number of publications approach more than one threat or countermeasure simultaneously.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Nonetheless, when I was approached more than a decade ago to participate in a high-profile and high-pressure campaign to stop such baptisms, I resisted.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approaching more than", ensure the context clearly indicates a value or quantity that is nearing or about to exceed a specific threshold. This adds precision to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "approaching more than" when the value has already surpassed the threshold. Instead, use "exceeding" or "greater than" to accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approaching more than" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating a state of nearing or almost exceeding a certain threshold or value. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approaching more than" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that a quantity or value is nearing or about to exceed a certain threshold. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English. It is commonly found in news and scientific contexts and serves to highlight the proximity to a significant point. While not as common as other similar phrases, it is useful when precision is required. Remember to avoid using it when the value has already surpassed the threshold and prefer using "exceeding" or "greater than". This phrase is best suited for neutral registers, making it a versatile choice for various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearing beyond

Changes the verb to "nearing" and "beyond" replaces "more than", maintaining the sense of almost exceeding.

drawing closer to exceeding

"Drawing closer" emphasizes the movement toward exceeding, which is a slight shift in focus.

almost surpassing

"Almost surpassing" directly states the near-exceeding condition, which is more concise.

verging on surpassing

"Verging on" is a more formal alternative to "approaching", still denoting proximity to exceeding.

on the cusp of exceeding

Uses a more figurative expression, "on the cusp", to imply being on the verge of exceeding.

getting close to exceeding

Uses more casual language like "getting close" to convey the nearing aspect.

nearing the vicinity of

Shifts the focus to being close to a general vicinity rather than exceeding a specific value.

coming up on exceeding

A more conversational alternative using "coming up on" to indicate approaching.

in proximity to exceeding

Replaces "approaching" with a more formal phrase, "in proximity to", for a more sophisticated tone.

on the verge of passing

Uses "on the verge" to emphasize the imminence of passing a certain threshold.

FAQs

How do I use "approaching more than" in a sentence?

Use "approaching more than" to indicate that something is nearing or about to exceed a certain value or threshold. For example, "The project is approaching more than 100 hours of work."

What can I say instead of "approaching more than"?

You can use alternatives like "nearing beyond", "drawing closer to exceeding", or "almost surpassing" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "approaching over" instead of "approaching more than"?

While "approaching over" might be understood, "approaching more than" is grammatically correct and more precise. Consider using alternatives like "nearing beyond" for similar effect.

What's the difference between "approaching more than" and "exceeding"?

"Approaching more than" indicates that the value is close to exceeding a threshold, while "exceeding" means the value has already surpassed it. The former implies anticipation, the latter, a completed action.