some dollars

USAGE SUMMARY

"some dollars" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you need to refer generally to a number of dollars. For example, "I've saved up some dollars for a new laptop."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

For some, dollars alone are the answer.

The New York Times

Put your card on the bar and shed some dollars.

The Guardian - Sport

She asked, "It would be six hundred and some dollars per test?" Varrato nodded.

The New Yorker

Just two hundred and some dollars and fifteen hundred or so miles — that's all there was.

The New Yorker

"You can't just throw some dollars in my face and watch me go away.

The New York Times - Sports

"Investing some dollars there now would save a lot of dollars in the future," he noted.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

"It was 40-some dollars," Mr. Kurtzman said.

The New York Times

It cost me four hundred-some dollars — maybe four-sixty, withetip tip.

The New Yorker

Here, as well as at every other discount-o-rama, you can pick up high-quality umbrellas, such as Totes, for about $10 to $17 (originally twenty-some dollars).

The New Yorker

In the end, the individual who killed him got a careless driving ticket (which was dated almost a month from the incident) and paid $200 some dollars in court; meanwhile my siblings and I lost our father forever.

Huffington Post

It cost me four hundred-some dollars maybe four-sixty, withetip tip.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "some dollars" when you want to indicate an unspecified but relatively small amount of money in a casual or informal context. For example: "I need to borrow "some dollars" for lunch."

Common error

Avoid using "some dollars" when a precise amount is known or required. For instance, instead of saying "The repair cost "some dollars"", provide the exact figure if available: "The repair cost 250 dollars".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "some dollars" functions as a determiner phrase specifying an indefinite quantity of US currency. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. The examples show that it is used to indicate non-specific amounts of money.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

12%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "some dollars" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate an unspecified quantity of money. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts and is appropriate for informal communication. When precision is required, it's best to specify the exact amount, but in casual conversation or writing, "some dollars" serves as a useful and understandable expression. As shown by the variety of examples found, its usage is widespread and generally accepted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few dollars

Replaces "some" with "a few", indicating a small, unspecified number of dollars.

a number of dollars

Replaces "some" with "a number", providing a slightly more formal tone.

a bit of money

Emphasizes the small quantity of money.

a small sum of money

Highlights the modest value of the money in question.

a certain amount of money

Uses a more formal and general term for an unspecified sum of money.

a handful of dollars

Implies a readily available, but limited, amount of dollars.

a couple of dollars

Specifies a smaller, indefinite quantity of dollars.

certain dollars

Indicates specific, but unspecified, dollars.

a portion of the funds

A more formal way of referring to part of the available money.

a share of the earnings

Suggests a specific allocation from generated revenue.

FAQs

How can I use "some dollars" in a sentence?

You can use "some dollars" to refer to an indefinite, small amount of money. For example: "Could you lend me "some dollars"?" or "I made "some dollars" selling lemonade."

What can I say instead of "some dollars"?

You can use alternatives like "a few dollars", "a bit of money", or "a small sum of money" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "some dollars" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "some dollars" is generally more appropriate for informal contexts. In formal writing, consider using phrases like "a certain amount of money" or specifying the amount precisely.

What's the difference between "some dollars" and "several dollars"?

"Some dollars" implies a smaller, less specific quantity than "several dollars". "Several" suggests more than a few, while "some" is a more general term for an unspecified quantity.