spend around

USAGE SUMMARY

"spend around" is a correct and useful phrase in written English.
It means to spend approximately or roughly a certain amount of time, money, or effort on something. Example: "On average, people spend around two hours a day on their phones."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We spend around £9-10bn payintointhethEUEUmunnaunna says.

The Guardian

A recent study indicated that commuters in LA spend around 60 hours per year in congestion.

BBC

By 2013, marketers will spend around $1.6 million, according to research firm eMarketer.

Forbes

The range is given because if you trailer your boat, you will likely spend around 10%.

WikiHow

I'm prepared to spend around £400.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For all that, players generally spend around $15 a month.

The New York Times

They spend around £80 on food every two weeks.

The Guardian

The Glassmans expect to spend around $100,000 on renovations.

The New York Times

We spend around three hours every morning getting ready.

The Guardian - Arts

An average homeowner can expect to spend around $1,500.

The New York Times

The company says it will spend around $1 billion on marketing in the months to come.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "spend around", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being spent (time, money, effort) and the purpose of the expenditure for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "spend around" without specifying the unit (e.g., dollars, hours). Always clarify what is being approximated to prevent misinterpretation. For example, instead of saying "They spend around 50", specify "They spend around $50" or "They spend around 50 hours".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spend around" primarily functions as a verb phrase used to indicate an approximate amount of time, money, or effort allocated to something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it suggests an estimated rather than precise figure. The examples in Ludwig illustrate its usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

25%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "spend around" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating an approximate allocation of resources. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to convey estimations, providing a general sense of the amount without strict precision. While primarily neutral in register, its use is most prevalent in news and media contexts, and to a lesser extent in scientific writing. To maximize clarity, specifying the unit of measurement is recommended, particularly in formal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Allocate approximately

Emphasizes the intentional allocation but focuses on the approximation.

Devote roughly

Highlights dedication of resources with an element of inexactness.

Invest about

Focuses on the investment aspect while maintaining the approximation.

Expend nearly

Stresses the act of spending, implying a close but not exact amount.

Pay in the vicinity of

Specifically relates to monetary expenditure, indicating an approximate payment range.

Clock in at more or less

Implies approximation and informality, specifically related to time tracking.

Dispense in the neighborhood of

Highlights distribution of resources, suggesting an approximate quantity.

Approximate expenditure of

Highlights the expenditure with an element of inexactness.

Estimate costing

Highlights cost estimation of something.

Set aside something like

Indicates a reservation or allocation of an approximate amount.

FAQs

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

Use "spend around" to indicate an approximate amount of time, money, or effort devoted to something. For example, "I "spend around" two hours a day reading" or "They "spend around" $50 on groceries each week".

What's a more formal alternative to "spend around"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "allocate approximately", "devote roughly", or "expend nearly" instead of ""spend around"".

Is it always necessary to specify the unit when using "spend around"?

While not grammatically required, specifying the unit (e.g., dollars, hours, etc.) improves clarity and prevents misinterpretation. Omitting the unit might cause confusion, so it's best to include it whenever possible.

How does "spend around" differ from "spend exactly"?

"Spend around" indicates an approximate amount, while "spend exactly" implies a precise, specific amount. Using "spend exactly" suggests there's no deviation from the stated figure, whereas ""spend around"" acknowledges potential variation.