estimate about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "estimate about" is not correct in standard written English.
It is generally better to use "estimate" without "about" or to use "estimate approximately" instead. Example: "We estimate the project will take six months to complete."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Three collectors bid feverishly for the piece, which sold for far above its high estimate, about $3.4 million.

The New York Times - Arts

By one estimate, about $5bn.

The Guardian

"We estimate about 150," he said.

The New York Times

By United Nations estimate, about a thousand people were killed during the violence.

The New York Times

By one estimate, about half of synthetic fuel interests are for sale.

The New York Times

I offer you my best estimate about what really happened in the runup to the vote.

The Guardian - Opinion

According to a CHP estimate, about 100 protesters gained access to the freeway.

The Guardian

By the government's estimate, about 90,000 people died in the earthquake, including 5,335 schoolchildren.

The New York Times

Since September, economists estimate, about 100,000 jobs have disappeared from New York City.

The New York Times

He directed, by common estimate, about sixty per cent of the film.

The New Yorker

The team made no estimate about Parker's availability for the Washington game.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, replace "estimate about" with "estimate approximately" or rephrase your sentence to use "estimate" followed by a specific value or range. For example, "We estimate the cost to be around $1000" is preferable to "We estimate about $1000."

Common error

Avoid redundancy by omitting "about" after "estimate". It's more concise and grammatically sound to say "estimate the cost" rather than "estimate about the cost". The word "about" is often unnecessary and can weaken the clarity of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "estimate about" functions as a verb phrase + preposition, but its usage is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this, suggesting more standard alternatives. It attempts to quantify or predict a value.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "estimate about" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Standard English prefers using "estimate" alone or with adverbs like "approximately" or "roughly". Its intended purpose is to provide an approximation, but its grammatical unsoundness diminishes its effectiveness. Although it is found in news and scientific contexts, avoiding it in formal or professional writing is best. Therefore, opting for more precise and grammatically correct alternatives will enhance clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

estimate approximately

Replaces "about" with "approximately" for greater precision.

estimate roughly

Uses "roughly" as an adverb to modify "estimate", indicating an approximate calculation.

estimate around

Substitutes "about" with "around", offering a more colloquial yet acceptable alternative.

approximate

Uses "approximate" as a verb, implying an estimated value without needing "about".

estimate close to

Replaces "about" with "close to", indicating proximity to a calculated value.

estimate in the vicinity of

Offers a more formal and precise way to express an approximate calculation.

calculate approximately

Replaces "estimate" with "calculate" while maintaining the meaning of approximation.

guess at

Replaces "estimate" with "guess", implying a less precise calculation.

ballpark figure

Uses a noun phrase to describe a rough estimate or approximation.

make an estimate of

Rephrases "estimate" as a verb into a noun phrase.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "estimate about"?

No, the phrase "estimate about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use "estimate" without "about", or use alternatives like "estimate approximately".

What can I say instead of "estimate about"?

You can use alternatives like "estimate approximately", "estimate roughly", or "estimate around" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "estimate" and "estimate about"?

While "estimate" implies a calculation or judgment of the approximate value, "estimate about" is redundant and grammatically unsound. It's best to use "estimate" alone for clarity or opt for "estimate approximately" for added precision.

How to use "estimate" correctly in a sentence?

Use "estimate" followed by what you are estimating. For example, "We estimate the project will take six months" or "The experts estimate the damages to be significant". Avoid using "about" after "estimate".