identifying about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "identifying about" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It is unclear and does not convey a proper meaning in standard English usage. Example: "Identifying about the issues at hand can help us find solutions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

For example, a single non-FMV spot sample would correctly identify only 52% of the children whose true weekly exposure was in the top quintile, suggesting high type 2 classification errors; by contrast, spot samples appear to offer good specificity, with a single non-FMV spot sample correctly identifying about 88% of children with true total DAP exposure below the top quintile.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Initially, Angie was identifying about 25 hot leads per week.

Harvard Business Review

While identifying about 80% of electrons as such, only about 2 in 10,000 protons (@ 150 GeV) will mimic electrons.

Advances in Space Research

In recent decades, scientists have done just that, identifying about 20,000 protein-coding genes in the human genome.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And a number of reports say future fire seasons may be worse, identifying about 40 million acres of public land as being at risk of catastrophic fire.

The New York Times

His 1975 book, "Inside the Company: CIA Diary," infuriated American officials by identifying about 250 officers, front companies and foreign agents working for the United States.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

JPAC identifies about 110 remains each year.

The New Yorker

We have already identified about half that saving.

The Guardian

City officials have identified about 50 structures with asbestos that need to come down.

The New York Times

"They were able to identify about 75 by name," he said.

The Guardian

The former official said the chart identified about 60 probable members of Al Qaeda.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "identifying about" in formal writing. Instead, use more precise language such as "identifying approximately", "identifying around", or simply "identifying" followed by a more specific description of what is being identified.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "about" after "identifying" when trying to express approximation. This construction is grammatically unsound. Use alternatives like "approximately" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "identifying about" is grammatically incorrect, according to Ludwig. It attempts to combine the verb "identifying" with a preposition "about" to indicate approximation, but this construction is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "identifying about" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal writing. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not usable in written English. While the intention is to express an approximate identification, better alternatives include "identifying approximately" or rephrasing the sentence for clarity. Due to its grammatical issues and lack of usage, it is not suitable for any register. The lack of examples further underscores its non-standard nature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

identifying approximately

This alternative uses "approximately" to specify an estimated quantity, replacing "about" and improving the clarity of the statement.

identifying roughly

This alternative uses "roughly" to indicate an approximate identification, replacing "about" with a similar quantifier but remaining grammatically sound.

determining approximately

Uses "determining" instead of "identifying" and "approximately" instead of "about", to indicate an estimated quantity.

ascertaining roughly

Replaces both "identifying" and "about" with "ascertaining" and "roughly", to convey a similar meaning with improved grammar.

identifying around

This changes "about" to "around", implying a similar approximation, but this is still somewhat informal and not always grammatically ideal.

identifying close to

This option implies the identification is near or approaching a certain quantity, replacing "about" with a proximity indicator.

identifying concerning

This shifts the focus to the subject being identified with respect to a particular topic, replacing the approximate quantity with a relational context.

identifying regarding

Similar to "concerning", this focuses on the subject in relation to a topic, moving away from quantifying the identification.

identifying in relation to

This broadens the context to include a relationship, moving away from the approximate number and focusing on contextual identification.

identifying with respect to

This alternative emphasizes the aspect or viewpoint from which the identification is made, changing the focus from quantity to perspective.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "identifying" when I want to indicate an approximate number?

The phrase "identifying about" is not grammatically correct. Instead, use alternatives like "identifying approximately", "identifying around", or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

Is "identifying about" ever considered acceptable in informal contexts?

While it might be used in very informal speech, "identifying about" is generally considered incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal writing.

What are some alternatives to "identifying about" that still convey the same meaning?

You can use phrases like "identifying approximately" or "identifying roughly" to indicate an estimated number. Another option is to rephrase the sentence to use a more direct construction.

How can I improve my sentence to avoid using the incorrect phrase "identifying about"?

Consider rephrasing the sentence. For example, instead of "identifying about 20 issues", you could say "identifying approximately 20 issues" or simply "identifying 20 issues" if the approximation is implied.