around a fourth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "around a fourth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate fraction or portion of something, typically in contexts involving measurements, statistics, or comparisons. Example: "Around a fourth of the participants reported feeling more energized after the workshop."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

He noted that movie theaters across the US recently screened a special 40th anniversary edition of Jaws – Steven Spielberg's masterpiece, built, coincidentally, around a Fourth of July weekend.

The Guardian

The only N.F.L. player to win three Most Valuable Player awards, Favre is poised to wrap his hands around a fourth.

The New York Times - Sports

We ascended a spiral staircase, wrapped around a fourth oak, then crossed to the treehouse's ample patio via a wonderfully wobbly Indiana Jones-style rope bridge.

The Guardian - Travel

Three percussive pieces were grouped around a fourth, Mozart's Piano Concerto in C (K. 503), which gathered up its skirts around it and held forth at some length, with a hint of elegant disdain.

The New York Times - Arts

By the next day, investors clipped its wings by around a fourth.

TechCrunch

The twelfth century text recorded in the Corning manuscript [10] was formed of a series of aggregations around a fourth century A.D. Alexandrian alchemical text.

Heritage Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But the flood took around a third of her plants.

The Guardian

Currently only around a third of the population has access to modern telecommunications.

Independent

There are around 40,000 Charedim in Britain, around a sixth of the Jewish population.

Huffington Post

Debis contributed around an eighth of both Daimler's sales and its profits last year.

The Economist

Cars are around a third more efficient than a decade ago.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "around a fourth", ensure that the context clearly indicates what you are taking a fourth of. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "around a fourth" when a precise measurement is required. This phrase indicates approximation and is unsuitable when accuracy is essential.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around a fourth" functions as an adjectival modifier, quantifying a noun with an approximate fraction. As Ludwig AI confirmed, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "around a fourth" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for indicating an approximate quantity, equivalent to roughly 25% of something. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's important to recognize its inherent imprecision and use it appropriately in contexts where an estimate is sufficient. As evidenced by the examples, it frequently appears in news and media contexts but less so in formal academic writing. For more precise situations, consider using more specific numerical expressions such as "approximately one quarter".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately one quarter

Replaces "around a fourth" with a more formal phrasing using 'approximately' and 'quarter'.

roughly a quarter

Uses 'roughly' to indicate an approximation, similar to 'around', while using the term 'quarter'.

about a quarter

Substitutes "around" with "about", maintaining a casual and approximate tone, while using "quarter".

in the vicinity of 25 percent

Offers a more precise and numerical way to express "around a fourth", using 'vicinity' to soften the exactness.

close to one quarter

Replaces 'around' with 'close to', indicating a near approximation of a quarter.

nearly a quarter

Uses "nearly" to suggest that the actual amount is slightly less than a quarter.

something like a fourth

Uses the colloquial "something like" to imply an estimation.

in the neighborhood of a fourth

Uses "in the neighborhood of" to suggest an approximate value.

a fraction approaching a fourth

Expresses the idea as a fraction that is getting closer to a fourth.

a proportion approximating 25%

This rephrasing uses "proportion approximating" to convey a similar meaning to the original phrase, but with slightly more formal language.

FAQs

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

You can use "around a fourth" to indicate an approximate quantity or proportion, such as "Around a fourth of the students in the class are studying abroad this semester".

What is a more formal way to say "around a fourth"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "approximately one quarter" or "roughly a quarter".

Is it correct to say "around one fourth" instead of "around a fourth"?

While "around one fourth" might be understood, "around a fourth" is the more common and grammatically preferred phrasing.

What are some situations where I should avoid using "around a fourth"?

Avoid using "around a fourth" in contexts that require precise figures, such as scientific research or financial reports, where accuracy is paramount. Instead, provide the exact percentage or fraction if possible.