of the order of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "of the order of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to indicate a roughly estimated amount or number, such as in the example sentence "The cost of the project was of the order of one million dollars."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath].

The Guardian

This is a reversal of the order of nature.

The New Yorker

Dame of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

The New York Times

The heart of the order of Cardinals baseball beats on.

The New York Times - Sports

2002: Nominated Honorary Companion of the Order of Canada.

The Guardian - Arts

He is present general of the Order of Lafayette.

The New Yorker

He was a Knight of the Order of Malta.

The New York Times

Adams is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a Member of the Order of British Columbia.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Tebaldi was a Knight Commander of the order of merit of the Italian Republic and France honoured her as a Commander of the order of arts and letters.

The Guardian

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1977 and an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1990.

The Guardian - Music

In 1993 he was honored as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "of the order of" to estimate quantities, ensure the context provides enough information for the reader to understand the scale you are referencing. For example, clarify if you're discussing millions, billions, or some other magnitude.

Common error

Avoid using "of the order of" when you have precise data. This phrase is intended for estimations, not exact values. If accuracy is known, use specific figures instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of the order of" functions as a qualifier, indicating an approximate quantity or magnitude. It suggests that a value is near or around a particular amount, without specifying an exact figure. Ludwig examples show its usage across various domains to express estimation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

29%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "of the order of" serves as a qualifier used to indicate an approximate quantity or magnitude. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and versatility across various contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific writing. When using the phrase, avoid mistaking estimation with precision. Several alternatives, such as "approximately" and "roughly", can be used to achieve a similar effect. With a neutral to formal register, this phrase appears most frequently in news, science and wiki sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately

Indicates an estimation, similar to "of the order of" when referring to quantities.

in the vicinity of

Implies nearness in quantity or magnitude, akin to estimating a range.

on the scale of

Suggests a magnitude or extent, similar to indicating the size of something.

roughly

Denotes an approximate value or amount, aligning with the imprecise nature of "of the order of".

in the neighborhood of

Conveys an estimation of a value or quantity, similar to indicating an approximate range.

in sequence

Refers to the arrangement or succession of items, akin to order.

in succession

Indicates a series of events or items following one another, resembling a particular order.

as a member of

Denotes belonging to a group, similar to being part of an order.

belonging to

Indicates affiliation or association, similar to being within a specific order.

pertaining to

Refers to something related to a system or arrangement, like belonging to an order.

FAQs

How can I use "of the order of" in a sentence?

Use "of the order of" to indicate an approximate amount or magnitude. For example, "The budget for the project is "of the order of" $1 million."

What are some alternatives to "of the order of" for expressing approximations?

You can use alternatives like "approximately", "roughly", or "in the vicinity of" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "of the order of" in formal writing?

Yes, "of the order of" is suitable for formal writing, especially when exact figures are not available or necessary. However, ensure the context aligns with the level of precision required.

What's the difference between "of the order of" and "exactly"?

"Of the order of" implies an approximation, while "exactly" indicates a precise value. Using them interchangeably would be incorrect in most contexts.