2.281 Approximate amounts and measurements

If you do not know the exact number, size, or quantity of something, you can give an approximate amount or measurement using one of a group of special words and expressions. Some of these words and expressions are put in front of a quantity and some are put after it.

Here is a list of some of the words and expressions used to give approximate amounts and measurements:

• about, almost, approximately, around, at least, at most, at the most, less than, more than, nearly, no more than, odd, or so, or thereabouts, over, roughly, some, something like, under, up to