low thousands

USAGE SUMMARY

"low thousands" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
Typically, this phrase is used to refer to a number between 1000 and 9999. For example: The cost of the car was in the low thousands.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Circulation in the low thousands was common for papers at the beginning of the 19th century.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I burn through hard drives like an ennui-struck 18th-century nobleman kills horses, so my miscellaneous count is usually in the low thousands.

Vice

He declined to release membership statistics, saying only that active supporters numbered "in the low thousands".

The New York Times

Assessments of the remnant force have varied from the low hundreds to the low thousands.

The New York Times

The numbers coming through resettlement schemes barely reach into the low thousands each year.

The Guardian

Their numbers are said to be in the high hundreds or low thousands.

The New York Times

At that level, he projects first-year sales "in the low thousands".

The New York Times

Estimates of the crowds ranged from the low thousands to as many as 60,000.

The New York Times

"Now we only get in the hundreds, maybe the low thousands," he said.

The New York Times

By the 1990s, the Salafi community numbered in the low thousands.

The New York Times - Magazine

At the federal level, he said, "It's in the low thousands annually".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "low thousands", ensure the context provides sufficient clarity. For example, specify units or categories to avoid ambiguity (e.g., "low thousands of dollars" instead of just "low thousands").

Common error

Avoid using "low thousands" when a more precise number is available or necessary. For instance, if you know the exact figure is 1200, stating "approximately one thousand" provides better accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "low thousands" functions as a quantifier, specifically an adjectival phrase, to provide an approximate numerical range. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to indicate a number between 1,000 and 4,999.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "low thousands" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a quantity ranging from 1,000 to 4,999. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used in contexts where an approximate number is sufficient. While versatile, remember to provide context for clarity and opt for precise numbers when available. Its register is generally neutral, making it appropriate for diverse communications, particularly in News & Media. Although "low thousands" has many uses, its primary function is as a quantifier used to estimate numerical values.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

early thousands

Indicates the lower end of the thousands range, emphasizing a starting point.

just over a thousand

Clearly indicates a quantity slightly exceeding one thousand.

a bit over one thousand

An informal construction pointing to a number slightly more than one thousand.

a few thousand

Implies a relatively small number within the thousands range.

around a thousand

Denotes an approximation near one thousand, without precise quantification.

one thousand plus

A more general way to say more than one thousand without specifying an upper limit.

scant thousands

Emphasizes the smallness or inadequacy of the number of thousands.

in the neighborhood of a thousand

Suggests an approximate amount around one thousand.

in the vicinity of one thousand

A formal way of indicating an approximate number close to one thousand.

one-ish thousand

An informal term suggesting an approximate value of around one thousand.

FAQs

How do I use "low thousands" in a sentence?

Use "low thousands" to describe a quantity ranging from 1,000 to 4,999. For example: "The initial print run was in the "low thousands"."

What is a more precise way to express "low thousands"?

If a precise number is known, it's better to use it. Instead of "low thousands", you could say "approximately 2,500" or "between 1,000 and 3,000" if that's more accurate.

Which is correct, "in the low thousands" or "in the lower thousands"?

"In the "low thousands"" is the more commonly used and accepted phrase. "In the lower thousands" is less frequent but can be understood.

What's the difference between "hundreds" and "low thousands"?

"Hundreds" refers to quantities between 100 and 999, while ""low thousands"" refers to quantities between 1,000 and 4,999. The key difference is the order of magnitude.