contracted about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contracted about" is not commonly used in written English and may be unclear in meaning.
It could be used in contexts discussing something that has become smaller or more limited in scope, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "The project has contracted about its initial goals, focusing only on the most critical aspects."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

In annualized terms, the euro zone economy contracted about 0.8 percent in the first quarter.

The New York Times

What O.P.M. did to cut the backlog is it contracted about half of the background checks it's responsible for doing.

The New York Times

In the five-plus years it took me to get a degree (Mexican degrees take longer) the Mexican economy contracted about 2 percent.

The New York Times

First-half revenue in the biggest division of Cable and Wireless probably contracted about 5percentt in the six months that will end on Sept. 30, the company said, because of slumping prices for voice and data services.

The New York Times

Israel's economy has contracted about 1percentt in each of the past two years, and is expected to be in the same range this year, making it one of the longest recessions in the country's 55-year history.

The New York Times

Private forecasters expect that the Commerce Department, which will release its initial estimate of third-quarter growth on Thursday, will report that the economy contracted about one-half of 1percentt.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Spain is entering its second recession in three years, and the government expects the economy to contract about 1.7 percent in 2012.

The New York Times

The European Commission confirmed previous forecasts for the economy to contract about 2 percent this year but then resume growth of about 1.5 percent in 2011.

The New York Times

The newsroom contracted to about 250 people from about 400.

The New York Times

It may also kickstart lending, which has contracted by about 5% in the year to August.

The Economist

I contracted herpes about six years ago.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and audience. While "contracted about" is acceptable, alternatives like "decreased by" or "shrunk by" may be more readily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "contracted about" when you mean "entered into a contract regarding". For example, don't say "The company contracted about new services" when you mean "The company contracted for new services".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contracted about" functions as a verb phrase with an adverbial modifier, indicating a reduction or decrease in size, scope, or quantity. Ludwig indicates it's not a standard expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contracted about" is a phrase used to describe a reduction or decrease, often in size, scope, or quantity. While grammatically acceptable, it's not the most common or universally understood expression. Ludwig suggests that alternatives like "decreased by approximately" or "shrunk by roughly" might offer greater clarity. Analysis of the example sentences reveals its prevalence in News & Media and Science contexts, with a neutral formality level. When employing this phrase, consider the context and audience to ensure effective communication. Furthermore, remember that "contracted about" cannot be used as a substitute for other meanings of "contract" such as "entered into a legal agreement".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shrunk by approximately

Replaces "contracted" with "shrunk" and "about" with "approximately", focusing on physical reduction.

decreased by roughly

Substitutes "contracted" with "decreased" and "about" with "roughly", emphasizing a numerical decrease.

declined by approximately

Specifically refers to a downward trend or reduction in value or quantity.

reduced by nearly

Employs "reduced" instead of "contracted" and "nearly" for "about", highlighting a diminishing quantity.

diminished by around

Replaces "contracted" with "diminished" and "about" with "around", suggesting a lessening effect.

lessened by about

Uses simpler vocabulary to convey a similar meaning of reduction or decrease.

agreed upon approximately

Replaces "contracted" with "agreed upon" which works only in some contexts involving contracts and "about" with "approximately".

narrowed down to approximately

Emphasizes a focusing or limiting, suitable for situations where scope is reduced.

limited to roughly

Focuses on setting a boundary or upper limit, rather than general reduction.

committed to approximately

Highlights an agreement or obligation, suitable where commitment is defined.

FAQs

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

"Contracted about" is used to describe something that has decreased in size or scope by a certain amount. For example, "The economy "contracted about 2 percent" this year".

What can I say instead of "contracted about"?

You can use alternatives such as "decreased by approximately", "shrunk by roughly", or "reduced by nearly" depending on the context.

Is "contracted about" grammatically correct?

While "contracted about" is not incorrect, it's less common and may sound awkward to some. Consider using clearer alternatives for better readability.

What's the difference between "contracted about" and "agreed upon"?

"Contracted about" describes a decrease or reduction. "Agreed upon", while using a form of "contract", means that the people have reached a mutual decision. These phrases aren't interchangeable.