roughly two dozen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly two dozen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate an approximate quantity of twenty-four items. Example: "The bakery sold roughly two dozen cookies for the charity event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There she joined a staff of roughly two dozen cutters.

Columbia University

The Senate bill calls for roughly two dozen studies.

The New York Times

It seemed that there were roughly two dozen of us.

The New Yorker

Then he lined up the roughly two dozen cuts needed for the project.

The New York Times

At last count, Moonalice had commissioned more than 400 posters from roughly two dozen artists.

The New York Times

Roughly two dozen rear-end crashes resulted in fires, according to the agency.

The New York Times

Roughly two dozen mushers had bedded their teams down for afternoon naps on the lake.

The New Yorker

But for the roughly two dozen court officers who responded that day, it was instinctive.

The New York Times

The roughly two dozen works on display are a fraction of the museum's 500-piece collection.

The New York Times - Arts

His roughly two dozen competitors for the post were younger and less established.

The New York Times

The project, known as RiverNet, is to use roughly two dozen instruments in all.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "roughly two dozen" when you need to indicate an approximate quantity of 24, without needing to be precise. It's a versatile phrase suitable for many contexts.

Common error

While alternatives like "approximately two dozen" exist, "roughly two dozen" strikes a balance between informality and precision. Opting for overly formal language can make your writing sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly two dozen" functions as a quantifier, specifying an approximate amount. Ludwig AI examples show it modifying nouns to indicate quantity in various contexts, from counting people to objects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

12%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "roughly two dozen" is a common and acceptable way to express an approximate quantity of 24. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and versatility across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives exist, "roughly two dozen" provides a balanced level of formality suitable for a wide range of writing scenarios. Use it when precision isn't essential, and you want to give a general sense of quantity. Remember, it implies an estimation, not an exact count.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately two dozen

Uses a more formal synonym for "roughly", maintaining the meaning of approximation.

about two dozen

Employs a simpler term for approximation, making it slightly less precise.

around two dozen

Suggests a range around the specified quantity, similar to "roughly".

in the neighborhood of two dozen

More idiomatic and descriptive, emphasizing the approximate nature of the quantity.

in the vicinity of two dozen

Similar to "in the neighborhood of", but slightly more formal.

something like two dozen

Indicates an estimation, conveying a sense of informality.

a little over twenty

Breaks down the number, providing a clearer but less concise approximation.

a couple dozen or so

Informal and somewhat redundant, emphasizing the approximation.

twenty-odd

A more concise and slightly old-fashioned way to indicate a number around twenty.

two dozen give or take

Explicitly states the possibility of a slight variation from two dozen.

FAQs

What does "roughly two dozen" mean?

The phrase "roughly two dozen" means approximately 24. It's used to indicate an estimated quantity, offering a less precise alternative to stating the exact number.

What can I say instead of "roughly two dozen"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately two dozen", "about two dozen", or "around two dozen" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "roughly two dozen" in formal writing?

While "roughly two dozen" is generally acceptable, it might be more suitable for less formal contexts. In formal writing, consider using "approximately two dozen" or stating the estimated number range directly.

How accurate is "roughly two dozen"?

The term implies an estimate close to 24 but isn't precise. The actual number could be a few units more or less than 24. It indicates a range rather than an exact figure.