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English grammar

Vague language: or so, -ish and give or take

C1 · Advanced Referring to people and things Questions 10

The rule

Precision is not always natural. Conversation approximates and softens with vague language. For numbers, times and ages: about, around, roughly, fifty or so, fifty-odd (a little over fifty), give or take, sevenish, in her forties, a couple of (about two). For categories: and things like that, and so on, or something, sort of, kind of, and the informal and stuff. -ish softens adjectives and colours too: tallish, greenish. Vague language is polite — it avoids sounding pedantic or too direct — and it saves effort. Formal writing approximates differently: approximately, roughly, about, some 300 people, in the region of; -ish, and stuff and or something do not belong in a report.

Pattern

numbers / time: about · around · roughly · fifty or so · fifty-odd · give or take · sevenish · in her forties · a couple of · categories: and things like that · or something · sort of · kind of · and stuff (informal) · formal: approximately · some + number · in the region of

Examples

  1. There were fifty or so people at the meeting.

  2. Let’s meet at sevenish, if that suits you.

  3. It takes an hour, give or take ten minutes.

  4. Some 200 people were evacuated from the building.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: Report: About fifty-ish people attended.

    Right: Report: Approximately fifty people attended.

    In formal writing use approximately, not -ish.

  • Wrong: There were fifty or something people.

    Right: There were fifty or so people.

    With numbers the phrase is or so.

  • Wrong: She is in the forties.

    Right: She is in her forties.

    An age range: in her forties.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    What does sevenish mean?

    Come round at sevenish.

    1. Before seven at the latest
    2. At about seven o’clock
    3. Seven times
    4. At exactly seven o’clock
    Show answer

    Answer: B At about seven o’clock

    -ish with a time = approximately.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. There were thirty or something people at the party.
    2. There were thirty or so people at the party.
    3. There were thirty so or people at the party.
    4. There were thirty or around people at the party.
    Show answer

    Answer: B There were thirty or so people at the party.

    number + or so = about that number.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    The journey takes three hours, give or _____.

    1. taking
    2. take
    3. took
    4. get
    Show answer

    Answer: B The journey takes three hours, give or take.

    give or take = more or less.

  4. 4Change the sentence.

    Write it for a formal report.

    Fifty-ish people signed the petition.

    1. Fifty or something people signed the petition.
    2. Like fifty people signed the petition.
    3. Fifty-ish people signed the petition, basically.
    4. Approximately fifty people signed the petition.
    Show answer

    Answer: D Approximately fifty people signed the petition.

    Formal approximation: approximately.

  5. 5Choose the correct sentence.

    Which is natural in conversation?

    Describing someone’s age.

    1. He is thirty-five years of age, approximately.
    2. His age is approximately thirty-five years.
    3. He is aged between thirty-four and thirty-six years.
    4. He’s in his mid-thirties, I think.
    Show answer

    Answer: D He’s in his mid-thirties, I think.

    Conversation prefers the vague range.

  6. 6Put the words in the right order.

    We talked about work and things like that

    Show answer

    Answer: We talked about work and things like that.

    and things like that ends a list vaguely.

  7. 7This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    She is in the fifties, I think.

    1. She is in her fifties, I think.
    2. She is in fifty, I think.
    3. She is on her fifties, I think.
    4. She is in the her fifties, I think.
    Show answer

    Answer: A She is in her fifties, I think.

    Age range: in her fifties.

  8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

    What does a couple of mean here?

    I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.

    1. Exactly two
    2. A long time
    3. About two, maybe a few
    4. Two people
    Show answer

    Answer: C About two, maybe a few

    a couple of = about two.

  9. 9Fill in the gap.

    You are writing a news report.

    _____ 300 homes were left without electricity.

    1. Some
    2. Something
    3. Ish
    4. Or so
    Show answer

    Answer: A Some 300 homes were left without electricity.

    Some + number = approximately (formal).

  10. 10Choose the correct sentence.

    1. The walls were a sort of greenish grey.
    2. The walls were a greenish sort grey.
    3. The walls were a sort of green-ish greyly.
    4. The walls were sort of a greenish greyish kind.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The walls were a sort of greenish grey.

    -ish softens a colour: greenish.

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