17

I understand the use of circa / c. as it applies to approximating dates. However, I have a writer who
(over)uses the word in other contexts.
Examples:

... from circa early 1990s up until circa 8 years ago ...

... said population is circa 92-94% ...

... making one stop circa Pacific Coast Highway ..,

... cost of circa $300,000 ...

... Rarely was I at either bar past circa 10:00PM ...

... circa 5 car widths from ...

Is this just my hatred of obfuscated language that's annoying me when I read this, or is it always
appropriate to use "circa" when you mean "approximately?"
 meaning

 word-choice

 word-usage

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edited Apr 28 at 18:25

KillingTime
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asked Aug 11, 2011 at 2:22

Dennis
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 @Thursagen - I used the correct word for what I meant, for two reasons: 1.) Obfuscated implies that something is
made intentionally confusing. Simply saying something is "confusing" does not imply whether it was intentional or
not. 2.) It was also partially for the ironic satisfaction of using an uncommon word in a post about my hatred of
people who use unnecessarily obtuse language when simpler language will suffice. - "Eschew obfuscation, espouse
elucidation."
– Dennis
Aug 18, 2011 at 0:09
 Is this a native speaker? Because if not, it may be unintentionally poor language. In my mother tongue, for instance,
"circa" is part of everyday language, and corresponds to "roughly" or "about". Using it for "nearby" would also
 work. You could indeed say "I'll find someplace circa at the squares" when you mean "nearby the squares". In
English it sounds like poor language to me.
– sigvaldm
Mar 17, 2019 at 11:13
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15
I wouldn't say it's always appropriate. Typically you only see it for dates (for example, "she was born
circa 1920"). The Wiktionary article on 'circa' implies (but doesn't explicitly state) in the usage notes
that it's used for dates and measures, so your examples of “circa Pacific Coast Highway” or “circa
$300,000” appear to be incorrect.
And it definitely is pointless for your “circa 92–94%” example. Giving a range of numbers is already
implying that you don't know the exact number, which means the “circa” is superfluous.
If you want my honest opinion, it’s one of those words used by people that want to sound smarter
than they are. “Approximately” or “roughly” or “about” would serve just as well and not sound so
stilted and stuffy.
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answered Aug 11, 2011 at 3:00

unexplainedBacn
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 1
"circa early 1990's" is pretty redundant too. "circa 1991" would be reasonable, although it might not be what was
meant, since I'd be inclined to interpret that as "late 1990 to early 1992". "In the early 1990s" would probably be
best.
– Mike Woodhouse
Aug 11, 2011 at 13:04
 2
There is a difference between "92-94" vs "ca 92-94". The first one says that the number is within 92-94, whereas the
second one says that the number may be outside of 92-94, but close, e.g. 91.7.
– Pacerier
Jul 8, 2014 at 8:55
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5
Wiktionary states:
circa

approximately, about

Julius Caesar visited this area circa 50 BC

Usage notes:
Used only before a date or measure, never after
 Note, two things, it's only used before a date or a measure. This means that if you were to use for
location, it would be improper. E.g. Circa the Pacific Highway would be incorrect.
Because "circa" is used to mean approximately in dates and measures, people would naturally use it
to mean approximately even outside of dates and measures, partly due to ignorance of the fact that
"circa" is used only for dates and measures, and partly out of inconsideration of the rules of usage.

or is it always appropriate to use "circa" when you mean "approximately?"

No, it depends on what you are using "circa" to modify with.
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edited Jun 15, 2020 at 7:40

CommunityBot
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answered Aug 11, 2011 at 3:22

Thursagen
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 I have a colleague who user it to explain when he'll be performing maintenance tasks, and I don't know if its usage it
correct or not. It does sit well with me, but can't be sure if he's using it correctly... "I'll be performing maintenance
tonight circa 19:00"
– Karl
Jan 4 at 10:29
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3
It has always been my understanding that circa is properly used only when exact dates are unknown
or disputed. (I will concede to my betters about the use of circa with measures. Presumably, the same
rule about intentional vagueness applies.)
Using circa with an exact, verified set of dates is wrong. Recently, I edited a client’s work to correct
“the poet John Keats lived c. 1795–1821”.
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edited Oct 10, 2012 at 19:17

RegDwigнt
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answered Jul 31, 2012 at 1:40
Sheesko
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