around a quarter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "around a quarter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate amount or proportion, typically referring to one-fourth of something. Example: "Around a quarter of the participants reported feeling satisfied with the service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Today, there are around a quarter of a million in the West Bank alone.

The New Yorker

Around a quarter of Azeris have no job.

The Economist

Nuclear power supplies around a quarter of German electricity.

The Economist

so around a quarter of the total lifespan.

The Economist

Around a quarter of borrowers are now in negative equity.

The Economist

It is believed that around a quarter are children.

Independent

Mexicans, by contrast, enjoyed only around a quarter as much.

The Economist

Around a quarter of members took part in the ballot.

The Guardian

Only around a quarter of the intellectuals listed are women.

The Guardian - Books

Around a quarter (99,000) are looking for work.

The Guardian

Russia supplies around a quarter of Europe's gas.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "around a quarter", ensure the context clearly defines what the quarter refers to. For example, "Around a quarter of the budget was allocated to marketing."

Common error

Avoid stating "around a quarter" when the actual percentage is significantly different (e.g., 10% or 40%). In such cases, use more accurate descriptors like "less than a quarter" or "nearly half".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around a quarter" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate an approximate proportion. Ludwig examples demonstrate its usage in describing fractions of populations, resources, and quantities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "around a quarter" is a common and acceptable way to express an approximate quantity, equivalent to roughly 25%. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts, from news and media to scientific publications. While versatile, remember that formal writing might sometimes benefit from more precise alternatives like "approximately 25 percent". As the analysis highlights, "around a quarter" serves as a quantifier to provide estimations without requiring exact numbers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately 25 percent

Uses a percentage to provide a more precise, though still approximate, value.

roughly one-fourth

Replaces "around" with "roughly" and "a quarter" with "one-fourth", maintaining the approximate meaning.

close to 25%

Implies an estimation near a specific percentage.

about a fourth

Uses "about" to indicate approximation instead of "around".

in the neighborhood of 25 percent

More informal and conversational, suggesting an approximate value.

nearly a quarter

Suggests the proportion is slightly less than a quarter.

just under a quarter

Indicates the proportion is a bit below a quarter.

in the vicinity of one-fourth

A more formal way of expressing an approximate fraction.

something like 25 out of 100

Breaks down percentage to a relationship

a considerable fraction

Emphasizes size or significance of portion, without being precise.

FAQs

What does "around a quarter" mean?

The phrase "around a quarter" means approximately one-fourth or 25% of a whole. It indicates an estimated proportion rather than an exact amount.

How can I rephrase "around a quarter" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "approximately 25 percent", "roughly one-fourth", or "close to 25%" depending on the context.

Is it acceptable to use "around a quarter" in formal writing?

Yes, "around a quarter" is acceptable in formal writing, although more precise terms like "approximately 25 percent" might be preferred in contexts requiring high precision.

What is the difference between "around a quarter" and "exactly a quarter"?

"Around a quarter" implies an approximation, while "exactly a quarter" indicates a precise amount equal to one-fourth. For example, "around a quarter" of the students passed, meaning approximately 25%, while "exactly a quarter" means precisely 25%.