sometime around

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sometime around" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an approximate date or time frame. For example, "I'm planning to have the report ready sometime around mid-May."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The scene continued until sometime around noon.

The New Yorker

Sometime around 11 p.m. Eastern, LeBronmania officially began.

The New York Times - Sports

Probably sometime around 1960.

The Guardian - Film

Sometime around 400 B.C.E.

The New Yorker

Sometime around midday, the plane took off.

The New York Times

MVP! MVP!" sometime around now.

The Guardian - Sport

UNPLUGGED Usually the day ends sometime around midnight, and starts again sometime around 4 or 5.

The New York Times

Then, sometime around 1800, it died out.

The Washington Post

Sometime around midmorning, Mr. Frank begins taping.

The New York Times

That was sometime around Oct. 29.

The Washington Post

Mr. Schwarzman met her sometime around 1994.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add nuance, follow "sometime around" with specific references, such as "sometime around mid-May" or "sometime around the end of the year".

Common error

While "sometime around" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound vague. In formal contexts, consider alternatives like "approximately" or "in the vicinity of" for a more precise tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sometime around" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying verbs by indicating an approximate point in time. This is consistent with Ludwig's examples, showing its role in specifying when an event occurred or will occur.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

19%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the analysis confirms that the phrase "sometime around" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase of time. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its function in specifying approximate times or dates. While versatile, it is important to consider the context and choose more precise alternatives like "approximately" in formal writing. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is indeed correct and usable in written English, particularly for indicating an approximate date or time frame.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately around

This phrase explicitly uses "approximately" to convey the inexact nature of the time frame.

about

This single word expresses a similar approximation, though less formally.

roughly

This adverb offers a straightforward substitute for "sometime around".

in the vicinity of

This phrase uses spatial language to suggest a temporal proximity.

in the neighborhood of

Similar to "in the vicinity of", this phrase implies a loose estimation.

close to

This phrase indicates that the time is near the estimated value.

in the ballpark of

This idiom conveys that the time is an approximate estimation.

give or take

This phrase emphasizes the potential variability around the specified time.

plus or minus

This phrase indicates that time period is not exact, but it's either earlier or later the specified time.

nearly

This adverb indicates nearness but not the same approximation of "around".

FAQs

How can I use "sometime around" in a sentence?

"Sometime around" is used to indicate an approximate time or date. For example, "The event will take place sometime around noon" or "The project should be completed sometime around next month".

What phrases are similar to "sometime around"?

Alternatives include "approximately around", "about", or "roughly", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to use "sometime around" in formal writing?

Yes, but sparingly. While grammatically correct, it can sound informal. In formal contexts, consider more precise alternatives like "approximately" or "in the vicinity of".

Which is better, "sometime around" or "at approximately"?

"At approximately" is generally more formal and precise. "Sometime around" is suitable for less formal contexts where a general estimate is sufficient.