approximately a dozen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately a dozen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate a quantity that is close to twelve but not exactly that number. Example: "We need approximately a dozen eggs for the recipe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

A major eruption in 1971 created a cloud of poisonous gases that killed approximately a dozen people.

The Guardian

The incubator fund is seeking $200 million from outside investors to seed approximately a dozen new hedge funds, according to the executives.

The New York Times

Apple blogs are counting approximately a dozen such messages in the last few weeks — and those are only the ones that were publicly shared.

The New York Times - Tech

"We're trying to catch up with what other translators have already done," he said, adding that in the last 20 years, approximately a dozen Bible translations have incorporated gender-sensitive language.

The New York Times

DONATIONS TO NONPROFITS Funds for Groups That Benefit Parks Approximately a dozen nonprofit groups that benefit city parks are given money each year that is donated to the city by corporations or other organizations that hold events at parks.

The New York Times

With approximately a dozen movie premieres wedged into the first weeks of December, celebrities are alighting on New York and taxing the schedules of the city's most sought-after beauty experts and fashion stylists -- a wintertime version of the days preceding the Academy Awards, in which celebrities prepare to compete in what is largely an appearance Olympics.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

House vote-counters estimate that they have expanded the roster of Democratic opponents to approximately 20, from around a dozen when lawmakers left Washington.

The New York Times

Approximately half a dozen teams around the world are pursuing carbonate fuel cell product development.

Journal of Power Sources

The Web site for No Lie claims that its technology, which is based on the Penn protocol, "represents the first and only direct measure of truth verification and lie detection in human history!" No Lie just started offering tests commercially, and has charged about a dozen clients approximately ten thousand dollars apiece for an examination.

The New Yorker

Seville is home to approximately half a dozen tablaos, most of which charge between 30 to 40 euros for entry (or up to 70 euros if you book dinner).

BBC

Further, these backflushing procedures render some types (e.g. Helicon spiral TFF cartridges) of these $1000 filters unusable after approximately half a dozen uses (L. Proctor and F. Rohwer, pers.

Environmental Microbiology Reports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context when using "approximately a dozen". In formal writing or technical contexts, "approximately twelve" may be more appropriate than "about a dozen".

Common error

Avoid using "approximately a dozen" when the actual number is known. Always strive for accuracy when precise figures are available.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately a dozen" functions as an adverbial quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate an estimated quantity. It specifies that the amount is close to twelve but not necessarily exact, like many examples in Ludwig, conveying approximation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

28%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approximately a dozen" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate an estimated quantity near twelve. Ludwig's analysis confirms its frequent appearance in news, scientific, and wiki contexts. While versatile, consider using "approximately twelve" in more formal settings. The choice between these options, as Ludwig highlights, often depends on the desired level of precision and the specific audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around twelve

Indicates an estimated quantity close to twelve, differing mainly in word choice.

roughly a dozen

Expresses an approximate quantity of twelve, using a different adverb for approximation.

about a dozen

A common synonym, using "about" instead of "approximately" to convey a similar meaning.

nearly twelve

Focuses on closeness to the number twelve, shifting from a count to a proximity.

close to twelve

Emphasizes the proximity to the exact number twelve.

a dozen or so

Indicates a quantity of twelve with a slight degree of uncertainty.

in the neighborhood of twelve

A more descriptive way to convey an approximate quantity, using a longer phrase.

in the vicinity of twelve

Similar to 'in the neighborhood of', but with a slightly more formal tone.

more or less a dozen

Indicates an approximate amount of twelve, allowing for minor variations.

a handful

Indicates a small quantity; less precise than 'approximately a dozen' but suitable in contexts where exactness isn't needed.

FAQs

How can I use "approximately a dozen" in a sentence?

You can use "approximately a dozen" to indicate an estimated quantity close to twelve. For example, "We need approximately a dozen eggs for the recipe."

What can I say instead of "approximately a dozen"?

You can use alternatives like "around twelve", "roughly a dozen", or "about a dozen", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "approximately a dozen" or "approximately twelve"?

Both "approximately a dozen" and "approximately twelve" are correct. The choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific context. "Approximately twelve" might be preferred in more formal or technical writing.

What's the difference between "approximately a dozen" and "a dozen or so"?

"Approximately a dozen" suggests a quantity very close to twelve, while "a dozen or so" implies a bit more variability around the number twelve. The latter allows for a slightly wider range.