a count of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a count of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used for making a tally or estimating a quantity. For example: "A count of the amount of people in the room revealed that there were over 50 people present."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Exhale for a count of four.

WikiHow

On a count of two..

The Times

A count of jobs in various states.

University of California, Berkeley

A count of her teeth confirmed it.

The New York Times

"Is anybody keeping a count of the cliches?

The Guardian - Sport

CNN offered a count of lost limbs: ten.

The New Yorker

I usually do a count of black people.

The Guardian

They also dropped a count of making false statements.

The Guardian

Inhale for a count of seven, exhale for 11.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A count of recent issues supports similar conclusions.

The New York Times

His brother, Mitchell, pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy and a count of making false statements and also served time in prison.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider alternatives like "an enumeration of" or "a tally of" for a more sophisticated tone.

Common error

Avoid using "amount" when referring to countable items. "Amount" is better suited for uncountable nouns (e.g., "the amount of water"), while "count" is used for discrete, countable items (e.g., "a count of people").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a count of" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject or object in a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and serves to quantify or enumerate items. Examples in Ludwig illustrate its role in various contexts like "a count of jobs" or "a count of her teeth".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

25%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a count of" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate the enumeration or quantification of items. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability across diverse contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, academic, and wiki sources, its function ranges from informing to assessing situations. While alternatives like "a tally of" and "an enumeration of" exist, the key is to use "count" with countable nouns and ensure clarity in defining what is being counted. Understanding these nuances ensures effective communication and avoids common errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tally of

Replaces "count" with "tally", emphasizing the act of recording and summing up items.

an enumeration of

Uses "enumeration" to suggest a more formal and detailed listing.

an assessment of

Shifts the focus to evaluating or judging the quantity or value.

a calculation of

Highlights the mathematical process of finding a total.

a reckoning of

Implies a more thorough and often formal counting or calculation, sometimes with an element of accountability.

an inventory of

Focuses on creating a comprehensive list of items, often for stocktaking purposes.

a census of

Suggests a systematic counting of a population or group.

a register of

Emphasizes the act of recording items in an official list.

a sum of

Highlights the final total or result of adding numbers or items together.

a poll of

Focuses on collecting opinions or votes from a sample to estimate overall sentiment or preference.

FAQs

How do I use "a count of" in a sentence?

"A count of" is used to indicate the process or result of enumerating items. For example, "A count of the votes showed a clear winner" or "The audit required a count of all inventory items".

What can I say instead of "a count of"?

You can use alternatives like "a tally of", "an enumeration of", or "an assessment of" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "the count of" or "a count of"?

Both "the count of" and "a count of" can be correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "A count of" is more general, while "the count of" typically refers to a specific, previously mentioned or understood count. For example, "We performed a count of the items" vs. "The count of items revealed a discrepancy."

Can "a count of" be used with both singular and plural nouns?

"A count of" is generally followed by a plural noun because it refers to multiple countable items. For example, "a count of votes", not "a count of vote".