a conspicuous number of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a conspicuous number of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a large quantity of something that is noticeable or obvious to the eye. For example, "There was a conspicuous number of butterflies in the garden this afternoon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Still, it was baffling to notice a conspicuous number of empty seats at this sold-out concert.

The New York Times - Arts

There was also a $159 sheath in chunky black lace similar to a Prada motif from last fall — and a conspicuous number of sleeveless dresses, owing to customer demand for looks inspired by the style of Michelle Obama.

The New York Times

What drew a conspicuous number of consumers to some H & M locations last month was a heavily promoted team-up with Comme des Garçons, a longtime favorite label for a certain segment of stylemongers.

The New York Times - Magazine

By Margaret Talbot November 6, 2012 If you got caught up in the "war on women" narrative this election cycle, you might have missed the fact that that a conspicuous number of women were running for the Senate today.

The New Yorker

If you got caught up in the "war on women" narrative this election cycle, you might have missed the fact that that a conspicuous number of women were running for the Senate today.

The New Yorker

Emeril Lagasse, the Food Network star who cooked with the Muppets on a television special in April, "Elmo's Magic Cookbook," and whose own audience includes a conspicuous number of children, has bitten the bullet and written a children's cookbook, "Emeril's There's a Chef in My Soup," to be published in March.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

But he's also seemed enamored of military men, appointing a conspicuous number to top positions after winning plenty of affection from the rank and file during a heated campaign.

Vice

These results need to be confirmed in future studies with a more conspicuous number of patients and with a more controlled definition of the time of blood sampling both during the ictal and interictal period.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

But even the occasionally exposed bones, the conspicuous number of amputees and people with deforming scars, and the superabundance of packed orphanages could not be taken as evidence that what had happened to Rwanda was an attempt to exterminate a people.

The New Yorker

Increasing in number of cells was considered mild for specimens with several cells per HPF (score 1 = 5 to 10 cells), moderate (score 2 = 11 to 30) for specimens with many cells for HPF, or severe (score 3 > 30 cells) for specimens with conspicuous and very conspicuous number of cells per HPF, respectively.

BioMed Research International

But one case is a conspicuous exception: the number of 7(a) loans of $150,000 or less actually fell by about 13 percent.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context to determine if a more specific adjective (e.g., "significant", "remarkable") would be more appropriate to convey the intended meaning.

Common error

While "a conspicuous number of" is generally acceptable, avoid overuse in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise language (e.g., "a significant proportion", "a notable increase") for greater clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a conspicuous number of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a quantity that is easily noticeable or remarkable. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in diverse contexts, from describing empty seats at a concert to the presence of pathogenic bacteria.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a conspicuous number of" is a phrase used to describe a quantity that is both large and easily noticeable. As verified by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in both News & Media and Scientific contexts. While versatile, it's essential to consider the specific nuance you want to convey, as alternatives like "a significant quantity of" or "a remarkable quantity of" might be more appropriate depending on the context. Avoid overuse in highly formal writing, opting for more precise language when possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a noticeable amount of

Emphasizes the perceptibility of the quantity rather than its striking nature.

a significant quantity of

Focuses on the importance or impact of the amount.

a remarkable quantity of

Highlights that the amount is impressive or worthy of attention.

a considerable number of

Indicates a quantity that is large enough to be taken into account.

a substantial amount of

Stresses the size or weight of the quantity.

a marked number of

Indicates a quantity that is clearly different from what is typical or expected.

a striking number of

Draws attention to the visual impact or impressiveness of the quantity.

a prominent number of

Suggests that the quantity is easily seen or stands out.

an appreciable amount of

Implies the quantity is large enough to have a real effect or be measurable.

a visible number of

Simply states that the number is able to be seen.

FAQs

How can I use "a conspicuous number of" in a sentence?

Use "a conspicuous number of" to describe a quantity that is easily noticeable or striking. For example, "A conspicuous number of attendees left early."

What are some alternatives to "a conspicuous number of"?

You can use alternatives such as "a noticeable amount of", "a significant quantity of", or "a remarkable quantity of" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a conspicuous number of" or "many"?

"A conspicuous number of" is more emphatic than "many". Use it when you want to highlight the noteworthiness of the quantity. Otherwise, "many" is simpler and often sufficient.

Can "a conspicuous number of" be used for both countable and uncountable nouns?

"A conspicuous number of" is typically used with countable nouns. For uncountable nouns, use phrases like "a significant amount of" or "a considerable quantity of".