invite about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "invite about" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may confuse readers, as it lacks context and clarity. Example: "I would like to invite about ten people to the party."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Bank of America will not be seeking applicants or taking volunteers for the pilot program; instead, it will select and invite about 1,000 customers to participate.

The New York Times

The size of the center allowed him to invite about 2,600 people.

The New York Times

Presumably, Argentina did not see the bit on the invite about not taking this game seriously.

The Guardian - Sport

Clevers said he would use some of the windfall to invite about 150 collaborators to a symposium in Amsterdam.

The Guardian

Marathon officials invite about 36,000 runners annually with the expectation that about 30,000 or 31,000 will participate.

The New York Times - Sports

Each June, Monsky takes temporary control of the entire apartment and uses it for a Flag Day celebration, to which he and Weis invite about a hundred guests.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The Treasury invited about 20 bloggers.

The New York Times

Mr. Levy invited about a dozen reporters from around the country.

The New York Times

She invited about 80 people to a nightclub and handed them each candles.

The New York Times

In recent days, he invited about a dozen senators to dinner.

The New York Times

The network invited about 20 to Warren; a few did not show up.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating an approximate number of invitees, use more precise alternatives like "approximately", "around", or "roughly" instead of "about" after "invite". For example, "invite approximately 50 guests" is preferable to "invite about 50 guests".

Common error

Using "about" directly after "invite" can sound awkward and is often grammatically redundant. Instead of saying, "We will invite about 100 people", opt for, "We will invite approximately 100 people", which is clearer and more grammatically sound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "invite about" functions as a verb phrase where "invite" is the verb and "about" attempts to act as an adverb modifying the quantity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "invite about" is not correct, suggesting grammatical awkwardness. Ludwig examples show this phrase used to indicate an approximate number of people being invited.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "invite about" appears in some contexts, especially within news and media, it's generally considered grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI identifies it as incorrect, and it's advisable to opt for more precise and formal alternatives like "invite approximately" or "invite around". These options offer improved clarity and grammatical correctness, making your writing more professional. When aiming for precision in your communications, especially in formal settings, choosing alternatives ensures you convey your message effectively without grammatical ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

invite approximately

Replaces "about" with "approximately", providing a more formal and precise estimation.

invite around

Substitutes "about" with "around", offering a slightly more casual approximation.

invite roughly

Replaces "about" with "roughly", suggesting a less precise estimate.

invite in the neighborhood of

Offers a more descriptive alternative to "about", emphasizing an approximate range.

extend invitations to approximately

Rephrases the entire expression to be more formal and explicit.

invite in the vicinity of

Similar to "in the neighborhood of", this indicates an estimated quantity.

invite something like

This is a more conversational option for expressing an approximate number of invitees.

invite on the order of

Implies that the number of invitees is approximate within a certain power of ten.

invite or so

Adds a colloquial touch to indicate that the number is not exact.

invite in the ballpark of

Uses an idiom to signify that the number is an estimate within a reasonable range.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "invite about"?

While sometimes used, the phrase "invite about" is generally considered grammatically awkward. It's better to use alternatives like "invite approximately" or "invite around" for better clarity.

What can I say instead of "invite about"?

You can use alternatives like "invite approximately", "invite around", or "invite roughly" depending on the context. These options provide a clearer and more grammatically sound way to express an estimated number of invitees.

How to use "invite approximately" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "I will invite about 50 people", a better option is to say "I will "invite approximately" 50 people to the party" to express an estimated number of attendees.

Which is correct, "invite about" or "invite approximately"?

"Invite approximately" is generally preferred over "invite about" due to its improved grammatical correctness and clarity. Although "invite about" is used sometimes, it's not considered as formally correct.