believed to be around

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "believed to be around" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing estimates or approximations regarding quantities, ages, or distances that are not precisely known. Example: "The ancient artifact is believed to be around 2,000 years old."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was believed to be around 82.

The New York Times - Arts

It's believed to be around £8.5m.

The Guardian - Sport

The offer is believed to be around £25.8m.

Independent

Hundreds of militants are believed to be around Baghdad.

The New York Times

There are now believed to be around 2,700 pairs across the country.

The Guardian

The death toll, which was expected to climb into the thousands, is now believed to be around 700.

The New York Times

Arsene Wenger is believed to have first refusal on the Spanish midfielder in a deal that is believed to be around £25m.

Independent

The fee for the 23-year-old Romania international is believed to be around £8.5m.

BBC

The number of reoffenders for 2012 is believed to be around 6%, another huge drop below the national average.

BBC

West Bromwich Albion have signed Nigeria striker Brown Ideye for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £10m.

BBC

Ki was Swansea's record signing when he joined from Celtic in August 2012 for a fee believed to be around £6m.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "believed to be around", ensure the context clearly indicates that the figure is an approximation and not a precise measurement. Avoid using it when exact figures are available or required.

Common error

Avoid using "believed to be around" when a more accurate figure is known or can be easily obtained. This phrase is best suited for situations where only an estimate is possible or necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "believed to be around" functions as an approximation indicator, typically used to estimate quantities, values, or ages when precise figures are unavailable. Ludwig's examples showcase its frequent use in journalistic contexts to convey estimated figures or ages.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "believed to be around" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate approximations. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and utility. Predominantly found in news and media, it conveys estimated quantities or values when exact figures are unavailable. While versatile, it is best suited for contexts where a degree of uncertainty is acceptable. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "estimated to be approximately". Remember to avoid using it when precise data is accessible to maintain accuracy and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

estimated to be approximately

Changes the verb to 'estimated' and adds 'approximately' for emphasis on the imprecise nature of the calculation.

thought to be in the vicinity of

Replaces "believed" with "thought" and "around" with "in the vicinity of", adding a slightly more formal tone.

presumed to be in the region of

Uses "presumed" instead of "believed" and "in the region of" instead of "around", suggesting a more informed guess.

considered to be roughly

Substitutes "believed" with "considered" and adds "roughly" to highlight the lack of precision.

estimated to be in the neighborhood of

Replaces "around" with "in the neighborhood of", providing a more colloquial alternative to indicate approximation.

reckoned to be approximately

Uses "reckoned" which implies an estimation based on available facts, with "approximately" for additional imprecision.

supposed to be roughly

Replaces "believed" with "supposed", indicating the information might be based on hearsay or weak evidence, includes the word "roughly".

understood to be in the ballpark of

Uses "understood" instead of "believed" and "in the ballpark of" instead of "around", creating an informal tone.

assumed to be somewhere around

Substitutes "believed" with "assumed" and adds "somewhere" for emphasis on the inexactitude.

speculated to be approximately

Replaces "believed" with "speculated", implying a guess based on incomplete information; adds "approximately" for emphasis.

FAQs

How can I use "believed to be around" in a sentence?

You can use "believed to be around" to indicate an estimated quantity, age, or value. For example, "The artifact is "believed to be around" 2000 years old" or "The cost is "believed to be around" $1 million".

What's a more formal way to say "believed to be around"?

More formal alternatives include "estimated to be approximately", "thought to be in the vicinity of", or "presumed to be in the region of". These options provide a more precise or sophisticated tone.

Is it appropriate to use "believed to be around" in academic writing?

While "believed to be around" is grammatically correct, it may be considered too informal for strict academic writing. In such contexts, consider using alternatives like "estimated to be approximately" or "thought to be in the region of" for a more professional tone.

When should I avoid using "believed to be around"?

Avoid using "believed to be around" when you have access to precise data or figures. This phrase is best used when you are providing an estimate or approximation due to a lack of specific information.