8 of them

USAGE SUMMARY

'8 of them' is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a certain number of things or people. For example, "I interviewed 8 potential employees, and out of them, I chose the most qualified candidate".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Meet 8 Of Them.

HuffPost

He had raced 13 times and won 8 of them.

Britannica

She had 12 children; 8 of them died.

The New York Times - Sports

Now 8 of them will be returned to Indonesia for a breeding program.

The New Yorker

Since 1996, there have been 16 guilty pleas at the tribunal, 8 of them since May.

The New York Times

In all, 24 vehicles were involved in the pileup, 8 of them tractor-trailer trucks.

The New York Times

Until May 4, Viacom's board has 18 members, 8 of them former executives of CBS.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

In large group of patients with pituitary tumors-associated headache, 8% of them had bilateral pain [2].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

About 8% of them have played Sims Social.

Cornell University

If you take all those companies together, only 8% of them are profitable.

Cornell University

When unmasked children arrived singly, only 8% of them stole any of the money.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the pronoun "them" has a clear and unambiguous antecedent in your writing. The reader should easily understand what "them" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "8 of them" if it's not immediately clear what "them" refers to. Rephrase for clarity. For example, instead of "We reviewed several proposals, and chose 8 of them", write "We reviewed ten proposals and chose eight proposals".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "8 of them" functions as a determiner phrase specifying a quantity out of a group. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and can be utilized to indicate a specific number from a larger set, as seen in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "8 of them" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to specify a quantity from a group, found across diverse contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Academia. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples illustrating its utility. For enhanced clarity, ensure the antecedent of "them" is evident, and consider more formal options like "eight of those" in professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eight among them

Rephrases to emphasize selection from a group using 'among'.

eight out of them

Uses 'out of' to specify a selection from a larger set.

eight from the group

Specifies the source as 'the group' making it more explicit.

a group of eight

Changes the structure to emphasize the group's size.

eight individuals

Replaces 'them' with a more formal 'individuals'.

eight members

More specific, implying the 'them' are part of a membership.

eight entities

A formal alternative replacing 'them' with 'entities'.

eight units

Replaces 'them' with 'units,' suitable when referring to non-human items.

eight specimens

Replaces "them" with "specimens", used in scientific or analytical contexts.

a handful of eight

This is a less exact rephrasing; implies that the quantity can vary slightly.

FAQs

How can I use "8 of them" in a sentence?

The phrase "8 of them" refers to eight items or individuals from a previously mentioned group. For instance, "I bought a dozen eggs, but only "8 of them" were fresh".

What's a more formal alternative to "8 of them"?

In formal contexts, you might replace "8 of them" with "eight of those" or explicitly state what "them" refers to: "Eight of the participants".

Is it ever incorrect to use "8 of them"?

It's incorrect if the antecedent of "them" is unclear or missing. Ensure the context makes it obvious what "them" is referring to.

What's the difference between "8 of them" and "8% of them"?

"8 of them" refers to a specific count, while "8% of them" refers to a proportion. The meaning changes from a definite number to a percentage of a total.