approximately two dozen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately two dozen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate a quantity that is close to twenty-four but not exact. Example: "The bakery produced approximately two dozen cookies for the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Approximately two dozen pieces will be on view.

The New York Times - Arts

Explores the style, form, and history of approximately two dozen pieces of canonical symphonic repertoire.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Of the approximately two dozen files which the Guardian has identified none appear to concern routine matters.

The Guardian

Of the approximately two dozen students interviewed at random during a recent visit, nearly all praised the school's instruction.

The New York Times

There have been approximately two dozen distinct legal challenges to the law since its enactment in March.

The New York Times - Health

The Guardian reported in May that the Obama administration had reached deals with a half-dozen foreign countries to repatriate approximately two dozen detainees.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Specifically, replaying Goodman's "When You're Smiling" approximately five dozen times worked like a charm.

The New York Times

During more than seven years of operations by the International Space Station, approximately three dozen pieces of debris were released and subsequently cataloged by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network.

Advances in Space Research

And among the approximately three dozen other loan recipients, "I can't promise you there won't be another" with the same problem, he said.

The New York Times

Just last week, American Special Operations forces arrived in northern Syria to work alongside Turkish troops combating the Islamic State, the Pentagon said Friday, emphasizing that the approximately three dozen Americans would serve in an "advise and assist" capacity.

The New York Times

In September, the Tea Board (which did not respond to interview requests) issued the second version of its Plant Protection Code that listed the approximately three dozen pesticides approved for use in tea.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approximately two dozen", ensure the context aligns with the level of formality. It's suitable for news articles, academic papers, and general writing.

Common error

Avoid using "approximately two dozen" when precision is crucial. If the exact number is known, provide it instead of using an approximation. For example, instead of saying, "The recipe calls for approximately two dozen eggs," specify the exact number of eggs required.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately two dozen" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun by providing an estimated quantity. Ludwig AI examples confirm its role in indicating a rough estimate rather than an exact number. It serves to give a sense of scale or magnitude.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

18%

Science

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "approximately two dozen" is a common and grammatically sound way to express an estimated quantity of around 24. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts, particularly in news, academia, and science. While it maintains a neutral register, it's crucial to consider the context and opt for precision when necessary. Alternatives such as "around two dozen" or "about two dozen" offer similar meaning and usage. When exactness matters, provide the specific figure instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around two dozen

Replaces "approximately" with "around", maintaining the meaning of an estimate.

about two dozen

Substitutes "approximately" with "about", indicating an approximate quantity.

roughly two dozen

Uses "roughly" instead of "approximately", conveying a similar sense of estimation.

in the neighborhood of two dozen

More descriptive, indicating an approximate range around two dozen.

in the vicinity of two dozen

Similar to "in the neighborhood of", providing an estimate.

close to two dozen

Indicates that the quantity is near two dozen.

nearly two dozen

Suggests the quantity is slightly less than two dozen.

over twenty

A more general approximation, indicating a quantity greater than twenty.

a couple of dozen

Uses "a couple" to loosely indicate around two.

twenty-something

More informal, suggesting a number in the twenties.

FAQs

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

You can use "approximately two dozen" to indicate a quantity that's close to 24 but not exact. For example, "The bakery prepared approximately two dozen cupcakes for the party."

What's a more formal way to say "approximately two dozen"?

While "approximately two dozen" is generally acceptable in most contexts, you could use phrases like "about two dozen" or "around two dozen" as alternatives with similar formality.

What can I say instead of "approximately two dozen" if I want to be less precise?

If you want to be less precise, you can use phrases like "over twenty" or "a couple of dozen" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "approximately two dozen" or "about two dozen"?

Both "approximately two dozen" and "about two dozen" are correct and have similar meanings. The choice often comes down to personal preference or the specific tone you're aiming for.