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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
'At about'
I have always felt the words 'at about ...', preceding a time and often used in news reports/giving evidence in court, are not compatible. One is specific, the other rather looser. What, if there is one, is the rule on this?
Top answer
I don't see any problem with this phrasing.
- I don't see any problem with this phrasing.
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3 Answers
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Hi
I think you have put it well
In ordinary conversation, we may say "I saw him go into the shop at about 1:00"
If there was a robbery at the shop at 12:55 then "at about" is not sufficient. It makes a big difference whether you saw him go in at 12:54 or at 1:05
I think you have the use of the words right
Dave
I think you have put it well
In ordinary conversation, we may say "I saw him go into the shop at about 1:00"
If there was a robbery at the shop at 12:55 then "at about" is not sufficient. It makes a big difference whether you saw him go in at 12:54 or at 1:05
I think you have the use of the words right
Dave
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dave_anonIf there was a robbery at the shop at 12:55 then "at about" is not sufficient. It makes a big difference whether you saw him go in at 12:54 or at 1:05I don't think this is related to the validity of the combination "at about" per se, which I think Anon is primarily asking about. People often don't know the exact time that they saw something. I
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