be in the order of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be in the order of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximation or a range of values, often in contexts involving measurements or quantities. Example: "The costs for the project will be in the order of $10,000 to $15,000."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A deal would be in the order of $40bn.

The Guardian - Business

It simply seems to be in the order of things.

The New York Times

They will not be in the order of £180m per year.

The Guardian

In it he claims defence cuts will be in the order of 8%.

The Guardian

The amount of chemical agent in these bombs would be in the order of about 1,000 tons.

The New York Times

Mr Yanukovych estimated the potential economic loss from Russian sanctions to be in the order of $15 billion.

The Economist

The government estimates that the cost of settling 600 Afghan interpreters and their families will be in the order of £33m.

The Guardian

"The [cost of the] plebiscite, which in any event could be disregarded by the parliament, could be in the order of $160m or more.

The Guardian

The report said: "It it has been suggested that government administration costs associated with Indigenous funding may be in the order of 70% as a general rule".

The Guardian

That section says that such ballots "shall, as far as practicable, be in the order of arrangement provided for paper ballots".

The New York Times

This week Mr Breton admitted that the government's budget deficit for 2006 would be "in the order of 3%", compared with a previous forecast of 2.7%.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be in the order of", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you are providing an approximation or a general range. It's often used with numerical values or quantities to suggest a magnitude rather than an exact figure.

Common error

Avoid using "be in the order of" when precision is required. It implies an estimate, not an exact measurement. Choose a different phrasing or provide a precise number if accuracy is essential.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be in the order of" functions as a qualifier, indicating an estimated or approximate value. It modifies a noun phrase, providing a sense of magnitude rather than a precise figure, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

26%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be in the order of" is a versatile expression used to indicate an approximation or a general magnitude. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its prevalence across various domains, including science, news, and business. When using this phrase, remember that it signifies estimation rather than precision. Alternatives such as "approximately" or "around" can be used, depending on the specific context. The phrase is appropriate for formal writing but should be avoided when exact figures are available or required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately

This is a direct substitute focusing on the idea of estimation.

around

Similar to "approximately", it suggests a non-exact quantity.

in the vicinity of

More formal way to express approximation.

in the neighborhood of

This alternative is less formal than "in the vicinity of".

on the scale of

Focuses on the magnitude or size.

on the level of

This alternative is used to describe an amount.

in the range of

This focuses on expressing a potential variance of numbers.

estimated to be

This alternative directly describes something that is evaluated.

roughly

Single-word substitute conveying a lack of precision.

about

Simple alternative focusing on approximation.

FAQs

How do I use "be in the order of" in a sentence?

Use "be in the order of" to indicate an approximate value or magnitude. For example, "The project's expenses will "be in the order of" $1 million."

What can I say instead of "be in the order of"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately", "around", or "in the vicinity of" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "be in the order of" in formal writing?

Yes, "be in the order of" is suitable for formal writing when you need to convey an approximate value. However, if precise figures are available, it's better to use them.

What's the difference between "be in the order of" and "equal to"?

"Be in the order of" implies an estimation or approximation, while "equal to" indicates an exact value. Use "be in the order of" when the exact amount is not known or not critical.