they contributed about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they contributed about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the approximate amount or extent of someone's contribution to a project, study, or event. Example: "In the recent study, they contributed about 30% of the total funding required for the research."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Research from the East of England Development Agency showed that between 50,000 and 80,000 of the region's 2.8 million "economically active" people were migrant workers, and they contributed about £360m a year to the regional economy.

The Guardian

According to the government, last year 210,000 visas were issued to Chinese nationals and they contributed about £300m to the UK economy.

BBC

Overall, the average annual reductions were similar for event and case fatality rates, indicating that they contributed about equally to the decline in mortality.

British Medical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In 1987, states kicked in about three quarters of what public colleges spent on education; now they contribute about half.

The New York Times

Although coal-fired power plants generally keep getting cleaner, they contribute about three-fifths of all sulfur dioxide, one-third of all mercury, and one-fifth of all nitrogen oxide emissions in the United States.

The New York Times - Books

If WIMPs exist, theory predicts that they contribute about ten times as much mass to the universe as the protons, neutrons and electrons of which familiar "normal" matter is made.

The Economist

Small and medium-scale exporters are the worst hit, and they contribute about 67% the industry’s sales.

Forbes

Springs are the gifts of nature on the earth as they contribute about eighty essential nutrients that are involved in more than 7000 enzymatic processes in the human body.

Applied Water Science

Modestly equipped, and managed mostly by medical professionals themselves, these are realities representing the vast middle and lower classes, and they contribute about 40% of available beds for the country.

Critical Care

The principal differences are the presence of the long chain n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20 5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22 6n-3) in the fish oil containing emulsion where they contribute about 3.6% of fatty acids (2.5% of fatty acids as EPA and 1.1% of fatty acids as DHA) [ 29].

Critical Care

Therefore, although there were five mice per cage, we conclude they each contributed about equally to the number of wheel revolutions.

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they contributed about", ensure the context clearly indicates who "they" refers to and what they contributed to. For example: "The volunteers contributed about 200 hours to the project."

Common error

Avoid using "they contributed about" when the contribution is precisely known. This phrase indicates an approximation, so use a more exact term if the figure is confirmed. For example, don't say "They contributed about $1000" if the exact amount was $1000; instead, say "They contributed $1000."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they contributed about" functions as a verb phrase indicating an approximate amount or share provided by a group or entity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they contributed about" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate that a group has provided an approximate amount of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears across a variety of sources, including news, scientific literature, and business documents. While appropriate for neutral contexts, more formal situations might benefit from more precise language. Remember to use this phrase when you want to convey an estimation rather than a precise measurement and ensure the context makes clear who "they" refers to.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they provided approximately

Replaces "contributed" with "provided" and "about" with "approximately", emphasizing the act of giving in an estimated amount.

they donated roughly

Substitutes "contributed" with "donated" and "about" with "roughly", suggesting a charitable or voluntary giving of an estimated amount.

their contribution was around

Restructures the sentence to focus on the contribution itself, using "around" to indicate approximation.

they gave in the ballpark of

Uses the idiomatic expression "in the ballpark of" to convey an approximate amount given.

they added close to

Replaces "contributed" with "added" and "about" with "close to", implying an increase by an estimated quantity.

they furnished nearly

Substitutes "contributed" with "furnished" and "about" with "nearly", indicating the supply of something in an almost exact quantity.

their share was estimated at

Shifts the focus to the share or portion, using "estimated at" to express approximation.

they allocated in the neighborhood of

Uses the phrase "in the neighborhood of" to denote an approximate allocation or assignment.

they chipped in something like

Employs the phrasal verb "chipped in" to indicate a contribution, with "something like" suggesting approximation.

they put up in the vicinity of

Uses the phrase "in the vicinity of" for an approximate value and replaces "contributed" with the expression "put up".

FAQs

How can I use "they contributed about" in a sentence?

You can use "they contributed about" when referring to an estimated or approximate amount that a group provided. For instance, "During the charity drive, they contributed about half of the total donations."

What's a good alternative to "they contributed about"?

Alternatives include phrases like "they provided approximately", "their contribution was around", or "they donated roughly" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "they contributed about" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "they contributed about" is more suitable for neutral or informal contexts. In formal writing, consider using phrases like "they provided approximately" or "their contribution amounted to approximately" for added precision.

What's the difference between "they contributed about" and "they contributed exactly"?

"They contributed about" indicates an approximation, whereas "they contributed exactly" indicates a precise amount. The choice depends on whether the amount is known precisely or is merely an estimate.