around 5

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "around 5" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate time or quantity, often in informal contexts. Example: "The meeting will start around 5, so please be on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

It should take around 5 minutes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This will take around 5 minutes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Airmail to the UK tends to take around 5 days.

Vice

The fire started around 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Huffington Post

That was around 5 p.m.

The New York Times

Well, I get up around 5 a.m.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

The kids start melting down around 5 30pm.

Huffington Post

Taxis cost around £5.

The Guardian - Travel

Small plates around £5; mains from £7.50.

The Guardian - Travel

This typically costs around £5 a month.

The Guardian - Money

Around 5 4 cal.

Quaternary International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "around 5" to indicate time, specify the unit (e.g., "around 5 pm") for clarity. Otherwise, your writing may be confusing.

Common error

Avoid using "around 5" when an exact figure is available or necessary. Using an approximation when precision is required can undermine the credibility of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around 5" primarily functions as an approximative modifier. It indicates that a number or value is near, but not exactly, the number 5. Ludwig's examples show this is applicable to different units and contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "around 5" is a commonly used and grammatically sound way to indicate an approximation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides several real-world examples across varied source types. While perfectly acceptable in most contexts, more formal writing may benefit from using synonyms like "approximately 5" to convey a higher degree of precision. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the units or context to avoid any confusion. The data suggests that it is most frequently found in News & Media sources, but is also common in scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately 5

Replaces "around" with a more formal synonym, indicating a slight shift in formality.

about 5

Uses a more common synonym for "around", resulting in a slightly more casual tone.

close to 5

Emphasizes proximity to the number 5, suggesting a near but not exact value.

roughly 5

Suggests an estimation with a possible margin of error, indicating a less precise number.

in the vicinity of 5

Uses a more formal and precise expression, indicating a more exact estimation.

in the neighborhood of 5

Implies a range around 5, providing a less precise estimate.

something like 5

Suggests an example of a similar number, making it less precise.

in the ballpark of 5

Uses an informal expression to suggest an approximate number.

plus or minus 5

Indicates a specific range with 5 as the central value.

approaching 5

Indicates the number is getting close to 5, but may not have reached it yet.

FAQs

How can I use "around 5" in a sentence?

You can use "around 5" to approximate quantities or times, like "The meeting starts "around 5 pm"" or "There were "around 5 people" at the event".

What's the difference between "around 5" and "approximately 5"?

"Approximately 5" is a more formal alternative to "around 5", which is generally more casual. Both indicate an estimated quantity or time.

What can I say instead of "around 5"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "about 5", "close to 5", or "roughly 5" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "around 5" in academic writing?

While generally acceptable, using more precise language like "approximately 5" or providing a specific range may be more appropriate in formal academic writing.