5.116 estimating frequency

If you want to be less precise about how frequently something happens, you can use one of the following approximating adverbs or approximating expressions: 'almost', about', 'nearly' 'or so', 'or less', and 'or more'.

You can use 'almost' and 'about' in front of 'every':

• In the last month of her pregnancy, we took to going out almost every evening.

You can also use 'almost' in front of '-ly' time adverbs derived from general time words:

• Small scale confrontations occur almost daily in many states.

'Or so', 'or less', and 'or more', are used after frequency expressions, but not after adverbs of frequency.

• Every hour or so, my shoulders would tighten.
• If you are studying part-time (21 hours or less a week) you can claim supplementary benefit.