make up around

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make up around" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the approximate composition or proportion of something within a larger context. Example: "Women make up around 50% of the workforce in this industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Marigold flower (Tagetes erecta) is a plant capable of synthesizing various carotenoids of which, once extracted, lutein esters make up around 72% of them (Lim 2014).

Bioresources and Bioprocessing

And in Georgia, the two groups combined make up around 80,000.

Huffington Post

The majority of the population is Karen-speaking and of Buddhist and Christian religions, while Burmese-speaking Muslim Karen make up around 14% [ 19].

Conflict and Health

Mothers make up around a fifth of the workforce.

Independent

Today, those cases make up around 60% of the caseload.

The Guardian

Second, the departments responsible for the public services, which make up around 55% of the total.

The Economist

Syria's Shias make up around 1% of Syrians, Alawites another 12%.

The Economist

Most Indo-Trinidadians, who make up around 40% of the population of 1.3m, support the opposition.

The Economist

Exports make up around half of the country's GDP, so a slowdown is inevitable.

The Economist

Expats make up around 85% of Dubai's population of 2m and nearly all of its workers.

The Economist

Muslims make up around 3% of the population in Canada, which prides itself on being multicultural.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make up around", ensure the context clearly indicates you are providing an approximation rather than an exact figure. This helps maintain accuracy and transparency in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "make up around" when precise data is available. Relying on approximations when exact figures exist undermines credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make up around" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating approximation. It's used to describe the approximate composition or proportion of something within a larger context, as shown by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

17%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make up around" is a frequently used prepositional phrase that serves to indicate an approximate quantity or percentage. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it offers a neutral and convenient way to convey estimated figures, ensuring your writing remains both informative and accessible. When exact data isn't available, "make up around" is a strong choice to accurately provide information that is as precise as possible. Be sure to consider formality and precision when choosing between alternatives like "constitute approximately" or "account for roughly".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constitute approximately

Uses a more formal verb and adverb to convey a similar meaning of forming a part of a whole in an approximate manner.

account for roughly

Employs different verbs to express a similar concept of forming a portion or percentage, but in a rough or estimated way.

comprise about

A more concise way of saying something is composed of a certain approximate amount.

represent approximately

Indicates that something stands for or is equivalent to an estimated quantity.

form roughly

A simpler way of saying that something is created or composed of an estimated amount.

approximate to

Focuses on the act of closely resembling a certain quantity or percentage.

total approximately

Suggests that when added together, items result in an approximate amount.

number approximately

Indicates the estimated count or quantity of something.

approximate to be

Uses a more elaborate structure to convey that something is estimated to be a certain amount.

equate to roughly

Shows an equivalence or correspondence to an approximate amount.

FAQs

How can I use "make up around" in a sentence?

Use "make up around" to indicate an approximate portion or percentage. For example, "Renewable energy sources "account for roughly" 15% of the country's total energy production."

What are some alternatives to "make up around"?

Alternatives include "constitute approximately", "account for roughly", or "comprise about". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is it more appropriate to say "make up around" or "make up approximately"?

"Make up around" is generally more informal, while "make up approximately" is more formal. Both are correct, but the context should guide your choice.

What's the difference between "make up around" and "compose"?

"Compose" refers to forming or creating something, while "make up around" refers to constituting a part of a whole, typically in an approximate quantity. So, you can say "elements compose a compound", but you would say "those elements "make up around" 70% of the compound".