twenty or so

USAGE SUMMARY

"twenty or so" is correct and usable in written English.
This is a common phrase used to indicate roughly twenty of something. For example, "We received twenty or so letters of complaint last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

A core of twenty or so.

The New Yorker

Typically, forecasting it requires twenty or so parameters.

Chemical Engineering Research and Design

Twenty or so well-dressed Chinese tourists piled out.

The New Yorker

Another twenty or so families moved in sometime before 1967.

The New Yorker

All twenty or so of us would stand in a line.

The New Yorker

You will likely be glad to have spent twenty or so minutes in Sturtevant's company.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Well, it got to be around three-twenty or so, and I still wasn't falling asleep.

The New Yorker

Eight hundred or so.

The New York Times

I was fourteen or so.

The New Yorker

Ten or so lemons.

The Guardian - Opinion

Eighty or so men in total.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "twenty or so", ensure the context makes it clear that an exact number is not important. Use it when a general idea of quantity is sufficient.

Common error

Avoid following "twenty or so" with overly precise details. For example, instead of saying "Twenty or so people, specifically 22, attended...", rephrase to either use the approximation or the precise number, but not both simultaneously.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "twenty or so" is to act as a quantifier, specifically an approximate quantifier. It modifies a noun to indicate an estimated quantity, conveying that the actual number is near, but not necessarily exactly, twenty. As evidenced by Ludwig, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

14%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "twenty or so" serves as a common and acceptable way to indicate an approximate quantity. As indicated by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used. While suitable for various contexts, including news and media, it may be less appropriate for formal or scientific writing, where more precise language is often preferred. When writing, it’s best to avoid over-precision immediately after using the phrase, and be mindful of the context to ensure it aligns with the desired level of formality. This expression is a flexible tool for conveying estimations, and using it effectively enhances communication by providing a general sense of scale without requiring exact figures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Approximately twenty

Replaces "or so" with "approximately", offering a slightly more formal tone.

Around twenty

Uses "around" to indicate a similar level of approximation.

About twenty

Substitutes "or so" with "about" for a more concise expression of approximation.

Roughly twenty

Replaces "or so" with "roughly" to indicate an estimate.

Twenty give or take a few

Emphasizes the uncertainty in the approximation.

In the neighborhood of twenty

Offers a more descriptive and slightly more formal way to express the approximate quantity.

Twenty-ish

An informal way to indicate an approximate quantity.

In the vicinity of twenty

A more formal alternative, suitable for professional contexts.

A couple of dozen

Uses a different unit (dozen) to express a similar quantity.

A score

Refers to twenty items or units; suitable for informal contexts.

FAQs

How do I use "twenty or so" in a sentence?

Use "twenty or so" to indicate an approximate quantity close to twenty. For example, "There were "twenty or so" students in the class" indicates the class size was around twenty.

What can I say instead of "twenty or so"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately twenty", "around twenty", or "about twenty" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "twenty or so" in formal writing?

While "twenty or so" is acceptable in many contexts, it leans toward informal. For formal writing, consider using "approximately twenty" or "roughly twenty".

What's the difference between "about twenty" and "twenty or so"?

The phrases "about twenty" and ""twenty or so"" are nearly interchangeable. Both indicate an approximate quantity close to twenty, with a slight nuance that "twenty or so" might imply a bit more informality.