there were approximately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were approximately" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when providing an estimate or rough count of something in a statement. Example: "There were approximately 50 participants at the event last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

From recollection there were approximately eight people… [there].

Independent

Residents told VICE News there were approximately 12 worshipers at the site when the attack began.

Vice

1n 1991, it was estimated there were approximately 10,000 biomedical journals in print globally.

HuffPost

There were approximately 100 Uruguayans in attendance.

The Guardian - Sport

"There were approximately 15 suits," Mr. Littleton testified.

The New York Times

There were approximately fifteen people in attendance by 6 PM.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In 1993, there were approximately 401,000 foreclosures in the entire market.

The New York Times

He said that there were approximately 750,000 Cablevision customers in Nassau and Suffolk combined.

The New York Times

Last year, there were approximately 3 million visitors from Arab countries.

The Guardian

As of September 2012, there were approximately 397,122 US children in foster care.

The Guardian - Money

There were approximately 40 hate crimes reported in the last academic year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there were approximately", ensure the context clearly indicates that the number provided is an estimate and not an exact figure. This helps avoid misleading the reader.

Common error

Avoid following "there were approximately" with overly precise numbers. For example, instead of saying "there were approximately 1,347 attendees", opt for a rounded number like "there were approximately 1,350 attendees" or "there were approximately 1,300 attendees" to reflect the estimated nature of the count.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were approximately" serves as a quantifier, specifically indicating an estimated or approximate number. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were approximately" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate an estimated quantity. As Ludwig AI reports, it is suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and academic writing. When employing this phrase, ensure that the number provided is understood as an estimate, not a precise measurement. Alternatives like "there were about" or "there were roughly" can be used for a less formal tone. Remember to avoid overstating accuracy by using rounded numbers after "there were approximately". This careful usage will improve clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were about

Replaces "approximately" with "about", indicating a less formal approximation.

there were roughly

Uses "roughly" instead of "approximately", suggesting a more coarse estimation.

there were nearly

Employs "nearly" to convey a sense of closeness to a specific number.

there were almost

Substitutes "approximately" with "almost", indicating a close but not exact quantity.

there were around

Replaces "approximately" with "around", suggesting an estimation within a certain range.

there were in the vicinity of

More formal alternative to "there were approximately", indicating an approximate location or number.

there were in the neighborhood of

Similar to "in the vicinity of", suggesting an approximate number or location.

there were something like

A more casual way to express an approximate quantity.

an estimated number of

A more formal and direct way of indicating an estimated quantity.

a rough estimate indicates

Expresses the idea of an estimate being made, rather than stating the estimate directly.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "there were approximately"?

You can use alternatives like "there were about", "there were roughly", or "there were nearly" depending on the context.

How do I use "there were approximately" in a sentence?

The phrase "there were approximately" is typically followed by a numerical value and a noun. For example, "There were approximately 500 attendees at the conference".

Is it better to use "there were approximately" or "there were about"?

Both phrases are correct, but "there were approximately" is slightly more formal than "there were about". Choose the phrase that best suits the tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "there were approximately" and "there were exactly"?

"There were approximately" indicates an estimated quantity, while "there were exactly" indicates a precise and confirmed count. Using "there were exactly" implies a higher degree of certainty.