over a dozen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "over a dozen" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a quantity larger than twelve, such as: We had over a dozen people at the meeting.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There are over a dozen islands to explore.

The Guardian - Travel

Perth is also home to over a dozen craft breweries.

The Guardian

There are over a dozen Athena Clusters scattered throughout the campus, even in residence halls.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"Well over a dozen," he estimated.

Huffington Post

The outbreak spread to over a dozen new patients during the subsequent 9 weeks.

Genome Medicine

There are over a dozen such primary care centers in the capital Erbil [ 4, 12].

BMC International Health and Human Rights

There are over a dozen distinct post-translational modifications that can modulate protein signaling or enzyme activity [ 10].

Clinical Proteomics

"Over a dozen".

The New York Times - Health

His memoirs stretch over a dozen volumes.

Stanford University

Just over a dozen Murillo portraits survive.

The New York Times - Arts

I own somewhere over a dozen.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the term in formal writing, consider if the imprecision is acceptable. If exactness is important, provide the precise number instead.

Common error

Avoid using "over a dozen" when you actually mean exactly twelve or a much larger, indefinite amount. This phrase is best suited for quantities reasonably close to the number twelve.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over a dozen" functions as a quantifier, indicating a quantity greater than twelve. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

24%

Science

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "over a dozen" is a commonly used phrase to indicate a quantity greater than twelve. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely accepted in various writing styles, particularly in news, science and academia. While "over a dozen" maintains a neutral and slightly informal tone, it is best to use numerical precision when writing formally. While related phrases like "more than twelve" or "a number of" offer alternative ways to express quantity, they may lack the idiomatic feel of "over a dozen".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more than twelve

Directly states the quantity exceeds twelve, providing a clearer numerical reference.

thirteen or more

Offers a slightly more precise, though less idiomatic, alternative.

in excess of twelve

A more formal and emphatic way of stating that the quantity is greater than twelve.

a good number of

Indicates a substantial quantity, emphasizing the positive aspect of having more than expected.

more than a handful

Implies a quantity that exceeds what can be easily held in one hand, offering a more visual comparison.

more than a few

Less specific, implying a small but noticeable quantity above the expected amount.

quite a few

Suggests a larger quantity than "several" but still less precise than "over a dozen".

several

Indicates more than two but less than many, with a less defined quantity.

a number of

A general term for multiple items, lacking the specific quantity implied by "over a dozen".

a score

A score typically refers to twenty, so it is way different from "over a dozen".

FAQs

How can I use "over a dozen" in a sentence?

You can use "over a dozen" to describe a quantity greater than twelve. For example, "There are "over a dozen islands" to explore."

What's a more formal way to say "over a dozen"?

A more formal alternative to "over a dozen" is "more than twelve" or "in excess of twelve". These options are more precise and suitable for professional or academic writing.

Is it appropriate to use "over a dozen" in academic writing?

While "over a dozen" is generally acceptable, it may be seen as informal in some academic contexts. If precision is important, using "more than twelve" or providing the exact number is preferable.

Which is correct, "over a dozen" or "more than a dozen"?

Both "over a dozen" and "more than a dozen" are correct and commonly used. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.