fluctuating around

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fluctuating around" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something varies or changes within a certain range or level. Example: "The stock prices have been fluctuating around the $50 mark for the past week."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This all wrenched the share price out of the hole and up into the $60 range its been fluctuating around recently.

TechCrunch

Blanchflower and Oswald (1994) report a consistent relationship between the regional unemployment rate and the regional wage level an elasticity of −0.1, with the estimates for a very large set of countries fluctuating around this value.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Temperatures fluctuating around the freezing mark have created a crust on the surface of the snow.

The New York Times

GDP annual growth is fluctuating around 5% and inflation came down from 13.6% in 2008 to 5.5% in 2009.

The Economist

Other utility vehicles of similar vintage had tire-related rates fluctuating around an average 6 per 1,000 fatal accidents during the period.

The New York Times

As he did every time he had a moment to spare, he glanced down at his golden wristband to check that the total value of his assets was still fluctuating around 37 billion.

The Guardian

In a world in which investment in intangibles now exceeds tangibles (buildings, machines and raw materials) – UK annual intangible investment has grown from £50bn to £140bn since 1990, while fluctuating around £80bn for tangibles – that is no longer good enough.

The Guardian - Business

If they are simply fluctuating around a constant or slowly rising trend, then they will quickly self-correct and the central bank should stay focused on the core inflation rate which is set in the rest of the economy.

The Economist

Peter hoped to accomplish this by replacing the numerous haphazard prikazy (administrative departments) with a coherent system of functional and well-ordered colleges (their number fluctuating around 12 in the course of the century).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Well, Fatas and Mihov have it right: if the business cycle is a matter of the economy falling below capacity, rather than fluctuating around potential output, the costs of recessions are much bigger than often portrayed, and focusing on "stabilization" greatly understates the importance of good macro policy.

The New York Times

Twilio's current market cap is fluctuating around $2.9 billion.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data trends, use "fluctuating around" to indicate a pattern of variation around a central value. This clarifies that the values aren't static, but dynamically moving within a range. For example, "the unemployment rate was fluctuating around 5%."

Common error

Avoid using "fluctuating around" when you simply want to state an average. "Fluctuating around" implies movement and variation, while an average represents a static central tendency. If there's no actual fluctuation, just state the average.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fluctuating around" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically following a verb (often a form of 'to be' or a verb indicating a state) to describe how a value or quantity varies in relation to a specific point or level. Ludwig provides several examples showcasing this usage, demonstrating its role in specifying the nature of this variation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fluctuating around" is a common and correct prepositional phrase used to describe values or quantities that vary near a specific point. Ludwig AI confirms this widespread applicability. It is particularly prevalent in scientific and news contexts, where precise descriptions of variable data are essential. When using this phrase, ensure that the context genuinely involves variation rather than a static average. By considering its nuances and avoiding common errors, you can effectively use "fluctuating around" to enhance the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

varying about

This alternative uses 'varying' instead of 'fluctuating', suggesting a less rhythmic or predictable movement.

oscillating near

This suggests a back-and-forth movement closer to a specific point, implying less randomness.

ranging approximately

Implies a spread over a certain range, differing in focus from the central point.

hovering close to

Suggests a position maintained near a specific value or place, highlighting proximity more than movement.

wavering around

Emphasizes instability and uncertainty, differentiating from a stable fluctuation.

drifting toward

Suggests gradual movement without specific fluctuation but instead a gentle tendency.

centering upon

This emphasizes the importance of the central point rather than the movement around it.

circulating about

This emphasizes circular movement around a central point.

revolving near

Implies an orbit around a specific level or thing.

close to

Indicates proximity without necessarily implying movement or change.

FAQs

How can I use "fluctuating around" in a sentence?

Use "fluctuating around" to describe something that varies above and below a central value. For example, "The temperature was fluctuating around 20 degrees Celsius" or "The stock price has been fluctuating around $50 for the past week".

What can I say instead of "fluctuating around"?

You can use alternatives like "varying about", "oscillating near", or "ranging approximately" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "fluctuating at" instead of "fluctuating around"?

While "fluctuating at" might be used in some contexts, "fluctuating around" is generally preferred when indicating movement above and below a certain point. "Fluctuating at" could imply the fluctuation is happening precisely at a specific value, which is less common.

What's the difference between "fluctuating around" and "averaging around"?

"Fluctuating around" describes the dynamic movement of values above and below a central point, while "averaging around" implies that the average value is near a certain number. They are not interchangeable; "fluctuating around" focuses on the variation, and "averaging around" focuses on the central tendency.