ten-odd

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'ten-odd' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an informal way of saying an approximate number greater than 10, e.g. "We had about ten-odd people attending the meeting".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Ten-odd members of a local environmental group were waiting on the beach when the Stoked crew arrived.

The New Yorker

Mr Haeri's entourage complains that none of Iran's ten-odd grand ayatollahs has condemned America's recent shedding of Shia blood.Racial discriminationRace is a factor.

The Economist

But on a January night, when temperatures have dropped into the teens, it's easier still to dart into the clean, bright, tastefully decorated dining room of Beijing Pop Kabob, huddle around one of the ten-odd tables, and start blowing on the tall glass brimming with scalding hot black-and-jasmine tea that you are served immediately.

The New Yorker

The culmination of ten-odd years tinkering around his basement studio, his debut album Luftbobler landed on The Vinyl Factory last year.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Sixty-odd pence?

The Guardian - Sport

Recall one twenty-odd years ago, in Cambridge.

The New Yorker

Fifty-odd fans are still paying the price for damage.

The Guardian - Sport

That allowed India, despite its poverty and backwardness, to survive this last fifty-odd years.

University of California, Berkeley

Eighty Odd Years in Hollywood: Memoir of a Career in Film and Television.

Columbia University

And this has been true in many of his thirty-odd ballets.

The New Yorker

He and his wife occupy only the third floor of the fifty-odd-room château.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ten-odd" in informal contexts where a precise number isn't crucial and a slightly larger quantity than ten is implied. Avoid in formal or technical writing.

Common error

Don't assume "ten-odd" indicates a very large deviation from ten. It suggests a number only slightly above ten, not significantly more.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ten-odd" functions as a quantifier, specifically an approximative quantifier. It modifies a noun to indicate an approximate number slightly greater than ten. As Ludwig confirms, it's usable in written English, functioning to convey an estimated quantity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ten-odd" is an informal quantifier used to indicate an approximate number slightly more than ten. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English, although it's best suited for informal contexts like news articles or casual conversation. As the examples show, it's mainly found in journalistic writing. For more formal settings, alternatives like "approximately ten" or "about ten" are more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about ten

Very similar in meaning, indicating a rough estimate close to ten.

ten or so

Uses "or so" to indicate a slight uncertainty or approximation.

around ten

A simpler and more direct way to express an approximate quantity near ten.

tenish

An informal suffix to indicate approximation, similar in tone to "ten-odd".

approximately ten

Replaces the informal "odd" with the more formal "approximately".

ten give or take

Explicitly indicates a small possible variation above or below ten.

a little over ten

More explicitly specifies the direction of the approximation.

slightly more than ten

A more formal and precise way of expressing a quantity exceeding ten.

in the neighborhood of ten

More figurative language to express approximation.

ten in round figures

Suggests that ten is a rounded number used for convenience.

FAQs

What does "ten-odd" mean?

"Ten-odd" is an informal way of saying approximately ten or a little more than ten. It indicates an approximate quantity.

When is it appropriate to use "ten-odd"?

It's best to use "ten-odd" in informal settings where precise numbers aren't necessary. Avoid it in formal writing or technical reports.

What can I say instead of "ten-odd"?

Alternatives include "approximately ten", "about ten", or "ten or so", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is "ten-odd" grammatically correct?

Yes, "ten-odd" is grammatically correct, though it's considered informal. Ludwig confirms that it's usable in written English.