somewhere in the order of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhere in the order of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate amount or range of something, often in numerical contexts. Example: "The project will cost somewhere in the order of $10,000 to $15,000."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Using market valuation multiples of five times that means New G.M. must generate operating cash flow somewhere in the order of $19 billion annually.

The New York Times

Not for the money lost in the Mt Gox collapse, which represented 7% of all bitcoins in existence (for comparison, 7% of all pound notes is somewhere in the order of £4bn).

The Guardian - Tech

His wealth is reported to be somewhere in the order of £250m, and has bought him all the luxuries and pleasures of old money, in particular his beloved 50-acre arboretum, which he considers his legacy.

The Guardian

While most of the email addresses have appeared in previous breaches shared among hackers, such as the 360m MySpace accounts hacked in 2008 or the 164m LinkedIn accounts hacked in 2016, the researcher said "there's somewhere in the order of 140m email addresses in this breach that HIBP has never seen before".

The Guardian - Tech

Asked how many people had died in Aceh, Michael Elmquist, the UN's humanitarian affairs coordinator in Indonesia, said: "I would say we are probably talking about somewhere in the order of 50,000 to 80,000 people". The official death toll in Indonesia stood at more than 45,000 last night.

The Guardian

In this environment where component prices are coming down at somewhere in the order of a percent a week, it offers us the opportunity to give real base performance value to our customers as we pass those cost reductions on to our customers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Even though the probability of quantum tunneling is very small for any particular proton-proton interaction, somewhere on the order of 1-in-1028, or the same as your odds of winning the Powerball lottery three times in a row, that ultra-rare interaction is enough to explain the entirety of where the Sun's energy (and almost every star's energy) comes from.

Forbes

Amazon says it has somewhere on the order of 72 million active customers, who, in the last quarter, were spending an average of $184 a year on the site.

The New York Times - Tech

The true overall figure might have been somewhere on the order of 100,000 protesters.

The New York Times

They had spent somewhere on the order of $5 million working on this new product.

Harvard Business Review

"The debt service is now somewhere on the order of $450 to $500 million a year".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somewhere in the order of" when providing estimates or approximations where precision is not critical. This phrase softens the statement and indicates a degree of uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhere in the order of" when you have exact figures. The phrase implies approximation, so using it with precise numbers can confuse your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhere in the order of" functions as a qualifier, modifying a noun phrase to indicate approximation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. Examples from Ludwig show its use in estimating quantities, costs, and numerical values.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "somewhere in the order of" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express approximation or estimation. According to Ludwig AI, it's correct and acceptable in written English. It's most commonly found in news and media, science, and wiki contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that you genuinely intend to convey an estimate, as overstating precision can be misleading. Alternatives like "approximately" or "in the vicinity of" can be used to similar effect. Remember, precision is key; reserve this phrase for situations where exact figures are either unknown or unnecessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the vicinity of

Indicates a close but not exact range or amount.

in the neighborhood of

Similar to "in the vicinity of", suggesting an approximate range.

in the range of

Specifies an approximate interval or span.

approximately

Replaces the entire phrase with a single word indicating approximation.

in the ballpark of

An idiomatic expression for approximation, often used for numerical estimates.

roughly

A single-word substitute conveying approximation.

give or take

Highlights the possibility of a small deviation from an estimated amount.

around

Suggests an approximate quantity or time.

about

Similar to "around", indicating an estimate.

more or less

Indicates that a statement is generally accurate but not perfectly precise.

FAQs

What does "somewhere in the order of" mean?

The phrase "somewhere in the order of" means approximately or roughly. It indicates an estimated value or range, without being precise.

How can I use "somewhere in the order of" in a sentence?

You can use "somewhere in the order of" to provide an approximate value. For example: "The cost of the project will be somewhere in the order of $1 million."

What can I say instead of "somewhere in the order of"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately", "in the vicinity of", or "roughly".

When is it appropriate to use "somewhere in the order of" versus a precise number?

Use "somewhere in the order of" when you are estimating or the exact number is not known or necessary. Use a precise number when you have accurate data and require accuracy.