require about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "require about" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used when discussing or estimating a quantity or amount that is needed. For example, "We've collected about 25 signatures so far, but we require about 100 more in order to move forward with this project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He said a cruder design would require about twice as much weapon-grade fuel.

The New York Times

Reaction turbines require about twice as many stages as impulse-staged turbines for the same change in steam enthalpy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Grass used to require about eight inches of dirt.

The New York Times

The surgery would require about three months to heal.

The New York Times - Sports

With waiting time, ships may require about 25 hours to negotiate the canal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The work will require about a half-dozen men working in shifts 24 hours a day.

The New York Times

The majority require about 15 minutes for an applicant to complete.

The New York Times

It contains about 12 finely spotted tan-coloured eggs, which require about 30 days' incubation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The events leading to formation of the fertilization membrane require about one minute.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The panel's collective recommendation was that passing should require about 70percentt of questions answered properly.

The New York Times

Cool before making cocktails, which require about two tablespoons per drink.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "require about", ensure that the context clearly indicates an estimation or approximation. Avoid using it when precision is necessary.

Common error

Avoid using "require about" in contexts where an exact figure or specification is needed. Using "require about 100 units" might be acceptable for planning, but inappropriate for a legal contract where the exact number must be specified.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "require about" functions as a verb phrase plus adverb to indicate an estimated or approximate need. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is indeed correct and commonly used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "require about" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for indicating approximate needs. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and commonality. While versatile, remember to use it when precision is not paramount. For more formal contexts or scenarios demanding accuracy, consider alternatives like "necessitate approximately". Keep in mind its primary function is to convey an estimation, making it a practical tool in various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

need approximately

Replaces "require" with "need" and "about" with "approximately", maintaining the sense of estimation.

necessitate roughly

Substitutes "require" with the more formal "necessitate" and "about" with "roughly", indicating an approximate need.

entail around

Replaces "require" with "entail" and "about" with "around", suggesting that something involves or includes an approximate amount.

call for nearly

Uses "call for" instead of "require" and "nearly" in place of "about", implying a demand for an amount that is close to a specific value.

demand in the region of

Replaces "require" with "demand" and "about" with "in the region of", indicating a need within a certain range.

involve something like

This alternative uses "involve" to mean "require" and "something like" to mean "about", creating a more informal expression.

is in need of approximately

This expresses the same idea by rephrasing the sentence structure to center around "is in need of" instead of "require".

presuppose something close to

A more formal alternative, "presuppose" replaces "require" and "something close to" is used instead of "about", implying a precondition that is approximate.

anticipate in the neighborhood of

Employs "anticipate" to convey "require" and "in the neighborhood of" as a substitute for "about", suggesting a forecast of an approximate amount.

depend on in the ballpark of

Replaces the original phrase with a more colloquial expression that is close in meaning, but is not exactly interchangeable.

FAQs

How can I use "require about" in a sentence?

Use "require about" when you want to indicate an estimated or approximate amount needed. For example, "The project will "require about" 100 hours of work".

What's a more formal alternative to "require about"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "necessitate approximately" or "demand in the region of".

Is it correct to say "requires about" instead of "require about"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but "requires about" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "The task requires about an hour"), while ""require about"" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "The tasks require about two hours").

What's the difference between "require about" and "require exactly"?

"Require about" suggests an approximation, while "require exactly" indicates a precise amount or specification. For example, "We require about 50 signatures" implies an estimate, whereas "We require exactly 50 signatures" means no more and no less.