in tens

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in tens" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to quantities or groups of ten, often in contexts like counting, organizing, or presenting data. Example: "The participants were divided into groups in tens for the activity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He said the race will bring in "tens of millions of pounds to the local economy".

BBC

In addition, stimulation parameters differ widely in TENS studies and consensus settings for clinical studies are missing.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

However, PWTs in TENS group still showed a significant difference compared with those in control group (P < 0.01).

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Stalin's political victims were numbered in tens of millions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The debts are still being counted, in tens of millions.

The New York Times - Sports

Whereas gypsum can disappear in tens of years.

The Guardian

But his experience is one that happens in tens of thousands of homes every year.

The New York Times

Asian and European investors were plowing in tens of billions of dollars.

The New York Times

Mercury is placed in tens of millions of teeth worldwide each year.

Independent

In tens of thousands of cases, for example, officers reported "furtive movement".

The New York Times

His defense was mocked in tens of thousands of online postings.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in tens", ensure the context clearly indicates you are referring to groups or quantities of ten. For instance, "The books were arranged in tens on each shelf."

Common error

Avoid using "in tens" when you mean quantities that are simply close to ten. Instead, use "around ten" or "approximately ten" to indicate an estimation rather than a grouping.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in tens" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier, indicating how something is grouped, measured, or occurs. It modifies nouns referring to quantities, specifying that these quantities are in multiples or groupings of ten. Ludwig confirms the phrase's correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in tens" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, although it's considered rare in common parlance. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. Its primary function is to quantify groupings of ten, typically appearing in neutral to professional contexts, particularly in news, scientific publications and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, clarity is essential to ensure the intended meaning of groupings based on the number ten is understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tens of

Shortens the phrase while maintaining the meaning related to "tens".

in groups of ten

Replaces the more concise phrase with a more explicit description of grouping.

in sets of ten

Similar to "in groups of ten", but uses "sets" instead of "groups".

in multiples of ten

Focuses on quantities that are products of ten, like 20, 30, 40, and so on.

in denominations of ten

Highlights the monetary value or units of measurement that are in groups of tens.

by the dozen

Specifies a group of twelve, changing the numerical reference.

in orders of magnitude of ten

This alternative emphasizes that the quantity is a power of 10. (10, 100, 1000...)

approximately ten

Indicates an approximate quantity near ten, rather than exact groupings.

around ten

Similar to "approximately ten", implying a quantity close to ten.

about ten

Like "around ten", suggesting an estimated amount.

FAQs

How can I use "in tens" in a sentence?

Use "in tens" to describe quantities or groupings of ten. For example, "The students were divided "in groups of ten" for the project."

What is a synonym for "in tens"?

Alternatives include "by the decade" (when referring to years), "in groups of ten", or "tens of" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "in tens of millions"?

Yes, it's correct. It indicates a quantity that is a multiple of ten million. For example, "The project cost "in tens of millions" of dollars."

What's the difference between "in tens" and "in the tens"?

"In tens" refers to grouping or quantities of ten. "In the tens" typically refers to a range of values between 10 and 19. For example, "The temperature was "in the tens", making it a mild day."