at about

USAGE SUMMARY

"at about" is correct and very commonly used in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a general time frame or approximation, such as "I arrived at about noon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Rooms start at about $550).

The New York Times

Tickets start at about £14.

The New York Times - Travel

It grounded at about 9pm.

Independent

She left the building at about 3.30pm.

Independent

Doubles start at about 390 dollars.

The New York Times - Travel

The family left hospital at about 3pm.

Independent

At about 7 30, Prince Charles left.

The New Yorker

Doubles start at about 4,000 pesos.

The New York Times - Travel

Entrees top out at about $24.

The New York Times - Travel

The stock trades at about $9.

Forbes

It is currently expanding at about 7.5%.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at about" when you want to indicate an approximate time, quantity, or value, rather than a precise one. This helps convey a sense of estimation without requiring exactness.

Common error

While "at about" is generally acceptable, avoid using it excessively in highly formal or academic writing where precision is expected. Opt for more precise language or alternatives like "approximately" or "in the vicinity of" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at about" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb by specifying an approximate time, quantity, or location. It introduces a degree of uncertainty or estimation. As Ludwig confirms, this is a correct and very commonly used expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

18%

Travel

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at about" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate approximations in time, quantity, or location. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. While it's widely accepted in various contexts, including news and media, it's advisable to use more precise language in formal or academic writing when accuracy is paramount. Common alternatives include "approximately", "around", and "roughly". Remember to use "at about" when you want to convey an estimation rather than a precise value.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around

More casual and concise way of indicating approximation.

roughly

Adverb that expresses approximation in a concise manner.

approximately

Formal synonym that conveys a similar meaning of estimation.

close to

Expresses nearness to a specific value or time.

or so

Indicates an approximate quantity or time, often used after a number.

something like

Informal way of expressing an approximation, suggesting a resemblance to a specified value.

in the neighborhood of

Similar to 'in the vicinity of', but slightly less formal.

in the vicinity of

More formal and precise way of indicating approximation, often used for location or quantity.

in the ballpark of

Informal idiom for indicating an approximate range or amount.

give or take

Indicates a rough estimate with potential minor variations.

FAQs

How can I use "at about" in a sentence?

"At about" is used to indicate an approximation. For example, "The meeting will start "at about 3 pm"" or "The cost is "at about $100"".

What are some alternatives to using "at about"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "approximately", "around", or "roughly" instead of "at about". For instance, instead of "It happened at about midnight", you could say "It happened "approximately at midnight"".

Is it grammatically correct to say "at about"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to use "at about" to indicate an approximation. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a common and acceptable phrase in written English.

What is the difference between saying "at" and "at about"?

Saying "at" implies a specific time or location, whereas "at about" suggests an approximation. For example, "The train arrives at 5 pm" is precise, while "The train arrives "at about 5 pm"" indicates it will arrive around that time.