ten or so

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ten or so" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an approximate quantity, suggesting that the number is around ten but not exact. Example: "There were ten or so people at the meeting, which was more than I expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Ten or so lemons.

The Guardian - Opinion

We expected ten or so people and 34 showed up for the first session.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

He settled in Austin, in a house of ten or so men.

The New Yorker

Ten or so bored-looking people in my vicinity left after the slow movement.

The New York Times - Arts

It was a complex of ten or so red brick buildings, set back from the street.

The New Yorker

Why should Presidential candidates "cater" to "important states" — i.e., to the ten or so "battleground" states?

The New Yorker

Soon, Germany should have ten or so such airlines, operating about 60 aircraft.

The Economist

The bike itself is so simple, made of just ten or so parts.

The New York Times

Still, they have only won something like once in their last ten or so in England.

The Guardian - Sport

The study of decision making on multimember courts has, in the past ten or so years, attracted increasing academic attention.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Each network employs between eighty and a hundred and ten or so correspondents, including anchors.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ten or so" when you want to indicate an approximate number without being overly precise. It's suitable for situations where an exact count isn't necessary or known.

Common error

Avoid using approximations like "ten or so" excessively in contexts where precise numbers are expected, such as in scientific reports or financial statements. In such cases, strive for accurate data whenever possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ten or so" functions as a quantifier, specifically indicating an approximate number. It's used to convey that the actual quantity is close to ten, but not necessarily exactly ten. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ten or so" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate an approximate quantity. According to Ludwig AI, its proper usage spans across diverse contexts, from news media to academic writing. It functions as a quantifier, offering a neutral register suitable for many situations. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "approximately ten". This phrase is particularly useful when precision is not crucial or when the exact number is unknown, providing a convenient way to estimate. It is very common, showing wide applicability. You can replace it with "approximately ten" or "about ten".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately ten

Uses "approximately" for a formal estimation.

about ten

Replaces "or so" with "about", indicating a rough estimate.

around ten

Similar to "about ten", suggesting a quantity close to ten.

roughly ten

Uses "roughly" to convey an approximation of the number ten.

ten give or take

Adds the explicit possibility of a slight variation above or below ten.

ten or thereabouts

Uses "thereabouts" for conveying an approximate quantity.

ten-ish

An informal way to indicate a number close to ten.

in the neighborhood of ten

A more descriptive way of expressing an approximate quantity.

a dozen or so

Shifts the base number slightly higher, suggesting around twelve instead of ten, while retaining the approximation.

a handful of

Indicates a small, indefinite quantity, though less precise than "ten or so".

FAQs

How can I use "ten or so" in a sentence?

You can use "ten or so" to indicate an approximate quantity. For example, "I invited "about ten" people to the party, but "ten or so" actually showed up."

What's a more formal alternative to "ten or so"?

A more formal alternative is "approximately ten". It conveys the same meaning but is suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is it correct to say "ten or so" or should I use a different phrase?

The phrase "ten or so" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It's an idiomatic way to indicate an approximate quantity, so feel free to use it in informal contexts.

What's the difference between "ten or so" and "exactly ten"?

"Ten or so" implies an approximation, meaning the quantity is close to ten but not necessarily exact. "Exactly ten" indicates a precise count with no room for variation.