requires about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "requires about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when estimating the amount of something needed for a task or project. Example: "The project requires about three weeks to complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The entire piece requires about an hour of viewing.

The New York Times - Arts

Preparing a shuttle for flight requires about 1.2m separate procedures.

The Economist

Every overtime period requires about an hour, Zeidman said.

The New York Times - Sports

It requires about $19m for its operations in Malawi.

The Guardian

But it only requires about 20 watts of power.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

On a CRAY-T3D with 512 processors, the code requires about 0.6 μs/particle/time step.

Journal of Computational Physics

IWMI approximates that each calorie consumed as food requires about 1 liter of water to produce.

Sustainability Science and Engineering

Computational efficiency analysis shows that the Poisson solver requires about 75% of the total computational time.

Computers & Chemical Engineering

It requires about two hours but seems instant compared with two days.

The New York Times

The certificate program there requires about 12 semester-long courses that cost from $50 to $150.

The New York Times - Science

Yet, "they are eating a whole lot more" since making milk requires about 500 calories daily.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "requires about", ensure the context clearly indicates that the amount is an approximation, not an exact figure. This is especially important in technical or scientific writing where precision is valued.

Common error

Avoid using "requires about" when the quantity is known with certainty. Using an approximation when exact figures are available can undermine credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "requires about" functions as a verb phrase indicating an estimated or approximate need. It's used to express that something necessitates a quantity that is not exact but close to a specific value. As Ludwig AI points out, this is a common and grammatically sound construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

35%

Academia

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "requires about" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to indicate an approximate need or necessity. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its acceptability and provides numerous real-world examples spanning diverse contexts such as news, science, and academia. While it's versatile, remember to consider the context's formality and precision requirements. For more formal settings, "requires approximately" might be preferred. Ludwig AI also presents several alternatives, such as "needs approximately" or "calls for roughly", allowing for nuanced expression depending on the specific situation. Avoid using "requires about" when precise figures are known to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needs approximately

Uses "approximately" to specify the quantity needed, similar to "about".

necessitates around

Replaces "requires" with "necessitates" and "about" with "around" to indicate an approximate need.

calls for roughly

Substitutes "requires" with "calls for" and "about" with "roughly" for an informal approximation.

takes in the neighborhood of

Uses a more descriptive phrase to indicate an approximate quantity.

demands close to

Replaces "requires" with "demands" and "about" with "close to" to emphasize the necessity and approximate amount.

involves something like

Substitutes "requires about" with "involves something like" for an informal approximation.

entails nearly

Uses "entails" instead of "requires" and "nearly" instead of "about" to convey a similar meaning.

needs in the vicinity of

Uses a more formal phrasing for indicating an approximate amount.

entails in the area of

Uses a more formal tone to indicate an estimated quantity.

approximate necessity of

Expresses the phrase as a necessity with an estimation. It's more emphatic.

FAQs

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

You can use "requires about" to indicate an estimated quantity or amount needed for something. For example, "The project "requires about" three weeks to complete."

What are some alternatives to "requires about"?

Alternatives include phrases like "needs approximately", "necessitates around", or "calls for roughly". The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "requires about" or "requires approximately"?

Both "requires about" and "requires approximately" are grammatically correct. "Approximately" is more formal and precise, while "about" is more casual. Choose based on the tone of your writing.

When should I avoid using "requires about"?

Avoid using "requires about" when you have precise figures available. In such cases, use the exact number to maintain accuracy and credibility. Also, if you need to sound more emphatic, try alternatives like "demands close to".