The words “round off” and “round up” are often misused by some people who either believe the two can be used interchangeably or are unclear on their correct usage. They do not mean the same thing. Here is the correct usage of the two phrases.
Round Off
The phrase “round off” in the English language has two meanings:
Mathematical Meaning: You can “round off” a number when approximating it to the nearest whole number, decimal place, or significant figure.
Examples:
Round off 8.68 to the nearest whole number. The answer will be 9.
Round off 8.789 to two decimal places. The answer will be 8.79.
Round off 4,473 to the nearest hundred. The answer will be 4,500.
The mathematical meaning of “round off” refers to adjusting a number to a nearby value that is simpler or more convenient, usually to a specific decimal place or whole number.
General Meaning: In core grammar, “round off” means to conclude or finish something satisfactorily or smoothly, or to finish well. For example, you might say, “to round off a 3-day workshop on business development.”
Examples:
Prof. Alex Idowu rounded off the 5-day convocation ceremony with a heartfelt speech.
The students rounded off the end-of-year party with fireworks.
Round Up
On the other hand, the phrase “round up” in the English language has multiple meanings depending on the context:
To conclude or summarize something:
Example: Let’s round up today’s community meeting by reviewing the key decisions we have taken.
To be in a state of restricted movement:
Example: The Nigerian Army is making significant progress as they plan to round up the enemies in a few hours.
To increase a number to the nearest whole number or a specified value:
Example: If your bill is N79.50, you can round up to N80 for convenience.
So, next time you’re describing how the security captured a group of criminals in their hideouts, it is correct to say, “The police have rounded up the criminals in their apartment.”
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