More or less

[Untaught88]

Hi,

Is "He is more or less two years old" correct?

 

[teechar]

It's possible.

 

[Tdol]

About would be a more common choice.

 

[jutfrank]

I say it's not correct. Don't use more or less with numbers.

You can use about or around.

 

[teechar]

Don't use more or less with numbers.

Take a look at the following link. You'll find two or three examples, more or less.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/more-or-less

 

[jutfrank]

Take a look at the following link. You'll find two or three examples, more or less.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/more-or-less

Perhaps I should have said: Don't use more or less before numbers. The rules seem to be different when the phrase appears after the number, as a postmodifier (or whatever it's called).

You'll find two or three examples, more or less. :tick:
You'll find more or less two or three examples. :cross:

Do you agree with that, teechar?

 

[teechar]

You'll find, more or less, two or three examples.

But how about with this punctuation? Do you still find it so objectionable?

 

[jutfrank]

But how about with this punctuation? Do you still find it so objectionable?

Grammatically, that's effectively the same as putting it afterwards, but it doesn't work well in that position because the phrase more or less sounds as if it goes with You'll find rather than two or three.

 

[Tarheel]

Hi,

Is "He is more or less two years old" correct?

It works this way:

It's 500 kilos, more or less.

But "He's two years old, more or less" seems to be saying he might be one or three. Better, I think, would be:

He's about two years old.

 

[emsr2d2]

Also, given that the context of the conversation probably already makes it clear that the speaker is talking about age, they probably wouldn't bother with "years old".

Jane: How old is that kid in the blue coat?
Helen: He's about two.