returned about every

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "returned about every" is not correct and may lead to confusion in written English.
It could be used in contexts where you want to express that something was returned in a manner that is nearly universal or frequent, but it lacks clarity. Example: "The package returned about every item we sent, except for the fragile ones."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I returned about every other day to visit Nyajime and her family in the hope that I would be documenting the recovery of this brave little girl and I was not disappointed.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I return about every six weeks for company visits.

The New York Times

He returned about 20 minutes later, explaining that he had to turn on every light, check every closet and look under the bed.

Huffington Post

Irbe returned about a minute later.

The New York Times - Sports

He returned about eight in the evening.

The New Yorker

When he returned, about 7 30 p.m., he was arrested.

The New York Times

The fund returned about 13 percent in 2012 and 2.5 percent last month.

The New York Times

Brumm left the room and returned about an hour later.

The New York Times - Sports

The police returned about a month after the raid.

The New Yorker

Over the last decade, CommonWealth has returned about 45 percent.

The New York Times

Mr. Williamson said Mr. Johnson returned about 30 minutes after Cassandra disappeared.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the frequency of returns, use clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "returned almost every item" or "returned nearly all items" to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "about" when you need to be precise about the frequency of returns. Instead, opt for definitive terms like "almost", "nearly", or specify a percentage (e.g., "returned 95% of").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "returned about every" attempts to describe the frequency or completeness of returns. However, the construction is grammatically awkward and unclear, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. It tries to combine the verb "returned" with an approximate quantifier and an indicator of universality.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "returned about every" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase lacks clarity. While its intended meaning is to convey a high frequency or near-universal return rate, better alternatives such as "returned almost every" or "returned nearly all" should be used for improved clarity and grammatical correctness. Although examples exist in various contexts like News & Media and Formal & Business, its infrequency suggests it is not a preferred expression. Therefore, opting for grammatically sound alternatives will enhance the quality and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

returned almost every

Replaces "about" with "almost" to indicate near completeness, rather than approximation.

returned nearly every

Employs "nearly" to specify that the return rate is close to complete.

returned virtually every

Uses "virtually" to emphasize the near-total nature of the returns.

returned just about every

Inserts "just" to soften the approximation, making it slightly less formal.

returned in almost every

Adds "in" to change the structure and emphasize the context of returns.

returned practically every

Uses "practically" to denote that the return is true in effect, if not in strict reality.

returned more or less every

Specifies an approximation with a range instead of a point value.

returned on average every

Focuses on the average frequency of returns, which might be relevant in some use cases.

returned consistently every

Highlights that the returns are predictable and constant.

returned routinely every

Suggests the returns are a normal part of a procedure.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "returned about every"?

You can use alternatives like "returned almost every", "returned nearly every", or "returned in almost every" depending on the context.

Is "returned about every" grammatically correct?

No, "returned about every" is not considered grammatically correct. It's better to use phrases like "returned almost every" or "returned nearly every" for clarity.

How can I use "returned almost every" in a sentence?

Example: "The online store returned almost every item that was sent back due to defects."

What is a more formal way to say "returned about every"?

A more formal way to express the same idea would be "returned virtually every" or "returned nearly all of the" items.