that's about right

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'that's about right' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you agree with something that has been said or written. For example, "I think I need to buy five new shirts for work - that's about right, isn't it?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

"It's a period piece that's about right now," Mr. Hainey explained.

The New York Times

No. It's like when you have people coming over to the house and you think "Do I have enough roast beef for however many people?" and you kind of go, "Yeah that's about right".

The Guardian

Toby Young tweeted: "It's like a £27m party political broadcast for the Labour party"; trim out some of the party's centrists and yup, that's about right.

The Guardian - Sport

Developer Rockstar promises 70 hours of gameplay – if my memory's correct from the original console version, that's about right – with the usual gangster high-jinks in store.

The Guardian - Tech

LocoL's motto is "revolutionary fast food for everyone," and that's about right.

Los Angeles Times

"Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison's acclaimed novel makes its New York stage debut," the press release states, and that's about right.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

We think that is about right.

The New York Times

He thinks that is about right.

The Economist

That was about right".

The Guardian - Books

"That is about right for me.

The Guardian - Sport

Rooney thought that was about right.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that's about right" when you want to express agreement with an estimate or approximation, not when precision is crucial.

Common error

While versatile, "that's about right" is generally informal. In professional or academic settings, consider alternatives like "that seems accurate" or "that is a reasonable estimate" to maintain a more formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that's about right" functions as an interjection of agreement or confirmation, typically used in response to an estimate, suggestion, or statement that is considered generally accurate, even if not precisely correct. This aligns with Ludwig's AI assessment and the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

81%

Wiki

7%

Huffington Post

7%

Less common in

The New York Times

3%

The Guardian

3%

BBC

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that's about right" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey agreement with an estimate or approximation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's perfectly acceptable in written English. While versatile, it leans towards informality. Its frequency in news and media underscores its general applicability, but more formal alternatives may be preferable in professional or academic contexts. Remember, while "that's about right" is a useful tool for expressing agreement, be mindful of the setting and audience to ensure your language aligns with the desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that's just about right

Adds an element of exactness to the approximation.

that's about right on

Adds emphasis to the correctness of the approximation.

that seems accurate

Emphasizes accuracy rather than approximation.

that sounds correct

Focuses on the correctness of the statement.

that's a fair assessment

Indicates agreement with an evaluation or judgment.

that's pretty close

Highlights the closeness of an estimation or guess.

that's a reasonable estimate

Emphasizes the reasonableness of an approximation.

that's roughly accurate

Emphasizes the approximate nature of the accuracy.

that's close enough

Implies a level of satisfaction with the approximation, even if not perfect.

that's in the ballpark

Idiomatic expression indicating a reasonable estimation.

FAQs

How can I use "that's about right" in a sentence?

You can use "that's about right" to express agreement with an approximation or estimate, for example, "I think it will cost around $500. - That's about right."

What phrases can I use instead of "that's about right"?

You can use alternatives like "that seems accurate", "that sounds correct", or "that's pretty close" depending on the context.

Is "that's about right" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "that's about right" leans towards informal usage. For formal contexts, consider alternatives like "that is a reasonable estimate".

What does "that's about right" imply in a conversation?

It implies agreement with an approximation, suggesting that a statement is generally correct without needing to be perfectly precise. It's often used to accept an estimation or assumption without further debate.