approximately twelve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately twelve" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate an estimate or rough count of twelve items or units. Example: "There were approximately twelve participants in the workshop, which was a great turnout."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

In each annual volume, CLR publishes approximately twelve student comments.

University of California, Berkeley

This means that there are approximately twelve Americans for every Iraqi.

The New Yorker

Download time is approximately twelve minutes, and by "approximately" we mean probably an hour.

The New Yorker

Airgas always has held its annual meetings approximately twelve months apart.

Harvard University

The Center assumes that most exhibitions will run for a period of approximately twelve weeks.

Yale University

He stuck his thumbs in his belt loops and said, "I've been a professional horticulturist for approximately twelve years.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

The country had approximately twelve million inhabitants.

Yale University

With a budget of approximately twelve million dollars, the freedom flights were the United States' largest-ever airborne refugee program.

The New Yorker

"The index now contains approximately twelve thousand individuals, of which approximately ninety-seven per cent are citizens of the United States," he wrote.

The New York Times

MONA costs approximately twelve million dollars a year to run but makes only four million, with Walsh putting up the difference.

The New Yorker

Civilization has evolved primarily within the geologic epoch of the Holocene, the period since the last ice age approximately twelve thousand years ago.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approximately twelve", ensure that the context supports an estimation rather than a precise count. It is most effective when the exact number isn't crucial or easily determined.

Common error

Avoid providing overly precise details immediately after using "approximately twelve". For instance, stating "approximately twelve, specifically 11.85" creates a contradiction. If precision is necessary, omit the approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately twelve" functions as a quantifying adverbial phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate an estimated quantity. It is used to provide an approximate number when precision is not required or the exact value is unknown. Ludwig AI confirms its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

31%

News & Media

31%

Science

27%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approximately twelve" is a versatile phrase used to indicate an estimated quantity close to the number twelve. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, including academic, news, and scientific writing. Alternatives like "about a dozen" or "around twelve" can be used for similar effect. When using "approximately twelve", avoid following it with overly precise details to maintain consistency. Its frequency and adaptability make it a valuable tool in expressing approximate quantities with clarity and ease.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about a dozen

Uses a more informal expression to indicate roughly twelve.

around twelve

Emphasizes the approximation aspect, suggesting a number near twelve.

roughly twelve

Indicates an estimation without needing to be precise.

in the vicinity of twelve

More formal way of specifying a number is close to twelve.

close to twelve

Focuses on the proximity to the number twelve.

nearly twelve

Highlights that the quantity is just short of twelve.

a dozen or so

Uses “a dozen” as a base and adds “or so” for a slightly less defined quantity.

a handful more than ten

Expresses the quantity by referencing a number close to ten.

a few over ten

Indicates that the number is slightly above ten but not a large amount.

just over ten

The quantity is marginally more than ten.

FAQs

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

Use "approximately twelve" to indicate an estimated quantity around the number twelve. For example, "There were approximately twelve guests at the dinner party" suggests the number was close to twelve, but not exactly known.

What are some alternatives to saying "approximately twelve"?

You can use alternatives like "about a dozen", "around twelve", or "roughly twelve" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "approximately twelve" or "about twelve"?

Both "approximately twelve" and "about twelve" are correct and often interchangeable. "Approximately" is slightly more formal, while "about" is more casual. Choose based on the desired tone and context.

When should I use "approximately twelve" versus a precise number?

Use "approximately twelve" when the exact number is unknown, unimportant, or variable. If the precise count is known and relevant, use that instead. For example, if you counted eleven items, say "eleven", not "approximately twelve".