Cool MateAround vs That's about that much
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Around
Top 1,000 (very common)A1preposition
That's about that much
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: AroundMost common: Around
| Around | That's about that much | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈraʊnd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈraʊnd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts əˈbaʊt ðæt mʌtʃ//🇺🇸 //ðæts əˈbaʊt ðæt mʌtʃ// |
| Meaning | in a circular direction; nearby | It refers to a specific amount or level. |
| Example | The house is built around a central courtyard. | I need that much money to buy the new phone. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | preposition | |
| Collocations | look around, turn around, walk around, get around, set around | that much money, that much time, that much effort |
| Antonyms | away, outside | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Around' confused with 'around about' (wrong context)., Using 'around' when only specifying one direction., Omitting the preposition when combined with a location. | Confused with 'That's about that many' when talking about countable nouns., Used in overly formal contexts where a simpler expression would suffice. |
| Usage notes | Use 'around' to describe movement in a circular way or location close to something. Avoid it in highly formal contexts. | Use this phrase to indicate a particular quantity or extent, usually in casual conversation. It may not be suitable for formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Around vs That's about that much
What's the difference between Around and That's about that much?
Around: in a circular direction; nearby That's about that much: It refers to a specific amount or level.
Which is more formal: Around and That's about that much?
Around is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Around and That's about that much?
Around is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Around: The house is built around a central courtyard. That's about that much: I need that much money to buy the new phone.
Can I use Around and That's about that much interchangeably?
Not always. Around and That's about that much are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.