for about a quarter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for about a quarter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate duration of time, typically referring to a quarter of an hour, a quarter of a year, or a quarter of a specific quantity. Example: "I waited for about a quarter before the meeting started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Today services account for about a quarter of revenues.

The Economist

They account for about a quarter of Iranian exports.

The Washington Post

Wholesalers account for about a quarter of all business inventories.

The New York Times

Wholesalers account for about a quarter of all business stockpiles.

The New York Times

They accounted for about a quarter of the bank's exposures.

The Guardian - Business

First's four regional franchises now account for about a quarter of rail travel in Britain.

The Economist

Sales in emerging markets accounted for about a quarter of the company's business in 2012.

The New York Times

Patients in this group accounted for about a quarter of all the patients studied.

The New York Times - Health

Bad loans accounted for about a quarter of banks' assets at the time.

The Economist

It appears to have remained in that condition for about a quarter of a century.

Encyclopedia Britannica

orchestra and I've been taking lessons for about a quarter of a year.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for about a quarter" when you want to indicate an approximate duration or proportion without being overly precise. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using phrases like "for about a quarter" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language with more precise figures or alternative approximations to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for about a quarter" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It specifies the approximate duration or proportion of something, as shown in Ludwig's examples: "They account "for about a quarter" of Iranian exports."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

15%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for about a quarter" is a versatile phrase used to indicate an approximate duration or proportion. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and widely accepted. It's commonly used in news, science, and academic contexts. When writing, it is important to vary the language to avoid repetition. While appropriate for many situations, remember it signals approximation, not precision. Therefore, always make sure this matches your intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly a quarter

Replaces "about" with "roughly" to express a similar degree of approximation.

for nearly a quarter

Uses "nearly" instead of "about" to indicate the approximation.

for roughly one fourth

Substitutes "a quarter" with "one fourth", maintaining a similar level of informality.

just about a quarter

Replaces 'about' with 'just about' to convey a slightly lesser degree of approximation.

approximately fifteen minutes

Specifies the time frame more precisely using minutes instead of a fraction.

around 25 percent

Expresses the quantity as a percentage instead of a fraction.

for approximately 25% of the time

Rephrases to clarify that the duration is being measured as a portion of time.

in the neighborhood of a quarter

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey the approximation.

something like a quarter

Employs a more colloquial phrasing to indicate approximation.

in the vicinity of 25%

Offers a more formal way to express the approximate percentage.

FAQs

How can I use "for about a quarter" in a sentence?

You can use "for about a quarter" to indicate an approximate duration or proportion. For example, "The meeting lasted "for about a quarter" of an hour" or "Sales in emerging markets accounted "for about a quarter" of the company's business."

What are some alternatives to "for about a quarter"?

Alternatives include "approximately fifteen minutes", "roughly a quarter", or "around 25 percent", depending on the desired level of precision and formality.

Is it more accurate to say "for a quarter" or "for about a quarter"?

"For a quarter" implies a precise measurement of one-fourth, while "for about a quarter" suggests an approximation. Choose the phrase that best reflects the intended meaning and level of accuracy.

In what situations is "for about a quarter" most appropriate?

"For about a quarter" is appropriate in situations where an exact figure isn't necessary or available, and you want to provide a general sense of proportion or duration. It works well in casual conversation and less formal writing.