collect about

USAGE SUMMARY

"collect about" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means to gather or assemble information or data about something or someone. Example: The company hired a team to collect information about their competitors' marketing strategies.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

(With 27 years, he can collect about $80,000 annually).

The New York Times

"Every day we collect about 1.5 tons of waste manually from the lake".

The New York Times

That means someone who committed to three days might collect about $1.50 a week or $6 a month.

The New York Times

The method BP has been using since June 3, a containment cap, has been able to collect about 15,000 barrels of crude oil a day.

The New York Times

As commissioner, Selig presided over the collective bargaining agreement reached in 2002 that helped the Brewers collect about $15 million from revenue sharing in 2003.

The New York Times - Sports

JPMorgan expects to collect about $13 million in commissions.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, lenders collect about $7bn in fees annually.

The Guardian

On average, they collect about 11,000 books a year.

The New York Times

John C. Gerspach, Citigroup's chief financial officer, will collect about $4.7 million.

The New York Times

WHAT kinds of data do companies like RetailNext, Brickstream and Realeyes collect about shoppers?

The New York Times

Many people have no idea how much data their cellphones collect about them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "collect about" to describe a quantity, ensure the context makes it clear whether the amount is an estimate, an average, or a target. Provide additional context to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "collect about" when a precise figure is available or required. This phrase implies approximation, so using it when exactness is needed can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collect about" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of gathering or accumulating an approximate quantity of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct and commonly encountered in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "collect about" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate the gathering or accumulation of an approximate quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its prevalence across diverse sources like news media, scientific publications, and business documents underscores its versatility. When employing "collect about", it's vital to ensure the context aligns with the phrase's inherent imprecision, avoiding its use when exact figures are paramount. Alternatives such as "gather approximately" or "accumulate roughly" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. Keep in mind that the top authoritative source, such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, The Economist, BBC confirms the validity of this usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gather approximately

Focuses on the act of bringing things together near the specified amount, emphasizing assembly rather than estimation.

accumulate roughly

Highlights the gradual increase to reach an approximate quantity, suitable when discussing growth or buildup.

amass around

Suggests a substantial accumulation to an approximate amount, often used in contexts of wealth or large quantities.

round up approximately

Implies adjusting to the nearest whole number or significant figure when collecting, suitable for estimations.

garner nearly

Highlights the effort or process of obtaining close to a specific amount, often used for achievements or recognition.

bring in close to

Describes earning or acquiring an amount near the specified figure, emphasizing the result of a process.

take in almost

Emphasizes receiving or capturing an amount that is nearly the specified value, often used for revenue or intake.

total roughly

Highlights the sum or final count being approximately a certain amount, focusing on the overall quantity.

draw in nearly

Suggests attracting or acquiring something close to the specified quantity, often used in contexts of attracting resources or attention.

assemble roughly

Focuses on combining different parts or items to achieve an approximate total, suitable for discussing composite quantities.

FAQs

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

Use "collect about" when you want to express that a quantity is approximate or estimated. For example, "The organization aims to collect about 10,000 signatures for the petition."

What's a good alternative to "collect about"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "gather approximately", "accumulate roughly", or "garner nearly".

Is it appropriate to use "collect about" in formal writing?

Yes, "collect about" is acceptable in formal writing when you need to convey an approximate quantity. However, ensure that using an approximation is suitable for the context. If precision is necessary, provide exact figures.

What kind of data can one "collect about"?

The phrase "collect about" can refer to tangible items like donations or samples, as well as intangible data such as information or statistics. For instance, one might "collect about" customer feedback or "collect about" environmental data.