at about ten

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at about ten" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate time, often in casual conversation or informal writing. Example: "Let's meet at about ten for breakfast."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Yngve and Arvid arrived at about ten.

The New Yorker

At about ten o'clock, Kelly spoke with Clark.

The New Yorker

"I'd get up at about ten and I'd drink a bottle of wine.

Independent

Kerviel returned to the bank at about ten o'clock that morning.

The New Yorker

At about ten o'clock, the last of the marchers crossed the highway back to camp.

The New Yorker

House finally quit at about ten to get some sleep and returned near dawn.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

At about ten-thirty, the champion and his faction entered the ring.

The New Yorker

At about ten-thirty, we all went for breakfast at the Armadillo, a little restaurant below our callejón.

The New Yorker

The crowd, which the Des Moines Register estimated at about ten thousand, gave Hillary a warm reception, and she appeared to enjoy herself.

The New Yorker

This is best illustrated by the execution of Starace … who was brought into the square in an open truck at about ten-thirty in the morning.

The New Yorker

Arrested yesterday at about seven.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at about ten" when you want to indicate an approximate time without being overly precise. It's suitable for casual contexts and everyday conversations.

Common error

Avoid using "at about ten" excessively in formal reports or academic papers where precise data is expected. Opt for more specific times or measurements when accuracy is crucial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at about ten" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating an approximate time. Ludwig provides numerous examples where it modifies verbs or clauses, specifying when an event occurred or is expected to occur.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at about ten" is a common and grammatically correct way to express an approximate time. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While highly versatile, it should be used judiciously in formal writing where precision is valued. Alternatives like "around ten" or "approximately ten" can be used for similar effect. Ludwig's examples demonstrate that its informal register is adequate for general use and casual conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around ten

Uses a different preposition to indicate approximation, maintaining the same core meaning.

approximately ten

Replaces the prepositional phrase with an adverb of approximation.

about ten o'clock

Adds specificity to the time being approximated.

close to ten

Indicates nearness to a specific number or time.

roughly ten

Similar to 'approximately', using an adverb to show approximation.

in the vicinity of ten

A more formal way of expressing an approximate quantity or time.

in the neighborhood of ten

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

in the area of ten

Similar to 'in the vicinity of' and 'in the neighborhood of', indicating an approximate quantity or time.

give or take a few minutes of ten

Specifically refers to time and acknowledges slight variations.

tenish

An informal suffix added to a number to indicate approximation.

FAQs

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

"At about ten" is used to indicate an approximate time. For example, "The meeting is scheduled to start at about ten o'clock."

What can I say instead of "at about ten"?

You can use alternatives like "around ten", "approximately ten", or "close to ten" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "at about 10 pm"?

Yes, it is correct to say "at about 10 pm". It is a common way to express an approximate time in the evening.

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

"At ten" indicates a specific time, while "at about ten" suggests an approximate time, allowing for some flexibility.