or thereabouts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "or thereabouts" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to indicate an approximate or estimated amount or location. Example: The cost of the new car is $30,000 or thereabouts.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Sport

Food

Arts

Books

Music

Academia

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When? 7pm, or thereabouts.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I was 29, or thereabouts".

The Guardian - Film

Once a fortnight or thereabouts.

The New Yorker

Still, he's there or thereabouts.

The Guardian - Sport

The year was 1985 or thereabouts.

The New York Times - Food

Swum 89,841m – 56 miles or thereabouts.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We'll be there or thereabouts," she said.

The Guardian - Sport

Skirts were knee-length, or thereabouts.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Any hints for Balboa Island or Newport Beach (or thereabouts)?

The New York Times

He estimated the date as 1911, or thereabouts.

The New York Times

Line a 22cm diameter cake tin, 5cm high or thereabouts.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "or thereabouts" to soften numerical statements or date references when exactness is not crucial, maintaining a conversational tone while providing reasonable accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "or thereabouts" excessively in contexts requiring precise data, such as scientific reports or legal documents, where exact figures are expected.

Linguistic Context

"Or thereabouts" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a preceding noun phrase, verb phrase, or clause. It indicates that the information provided is approximate, not precise. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in English, which means it follows standard grammar rules. For instance, "The cost is $100, or thereabouts" implies the cost is near $100 but not exactly that amount.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Lifestyle

20%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Food

8%

Arts

7%

Books

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "or thereabouts" is a versatile phrase used to indicate approximation or estimation in various contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news, lifestyle, and sports reporting. While generally neutral in register, leaning towards informal, it is most effective in softening numerical or locational claims where precision isn't critical. Alternatives like "approximately" or "roughly" can be used for similar meanings, but "or thereabouts" maintains a conversational tone. Remember to avoid overuse in contexts requiring strict accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thereabout

A less common, single-word form with the same meaning.

or so

A shorter, more informal way of indicating an approximation.

roughly

Suggests an estimate that might not be precise but is close to the actual value.

approximately

Indicates an estimation and lacks the conversational tone of the original phrase.

give or take

Implies a small margin of error or variability around a given number.

more or less

Indicates that the statement is generally true, even if not completely accurate.

in the neighborhood of

More descriptive and emphasizes proximity to a specific value.

in that vicinity

Refers to an approximate spatial location.

something like that

Implies a similarity without requiring precision.

of that ilk

This alternative references the characteristic, kind, or nature of something, suggesting a loose similarity rather than a strict equivalence.

FAQs

How can I use "or thereabouts" in a sentence?

Use "or thereabouts" to indicate an approximate quantity, time, or location. For example, "The meeting will start at 2 PM, "or thereabouts"."

What's a more formal alternative to "or thereabouts"?

While "or thereabouts" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives include "approximately", "in the vicinity of", or "in the neighborhood of".

Is it correct to use "thereabout" instead of "or thereabouts"?

"Thereabout" is a less common, single-word form of the phrase. While grammatically correct, ""or thereabouts"" is more frequently used in contemporary English.

What does "or thereabouts" imply about the statement it modifies?

It suggests that the statement is not precise but is a reasonable estimation, allowing for minor deviations without significantly altering the meaning.