a flood of students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a flood of students" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large number of students arriving or gathering in a particular place, often in a sudden or overwhelming manner. Example: "At the beginning of the semester, there was a flood of students rushing to enroll in classes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Suddenly, a flood of students rushed toward us.

The New Yorker

School bells unleash a flood of students decked out in black to mark the occasion — shirts, shoes, pants, and socks.

The Guardian

However, recently we have seen a flood of students into product design, which is a GCSE subject," she says.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But little is done about the problems because of this need for total devotion to the sport, and because so many colleges and universities have allowed themselves to become dependent on football for two vital commodities: money, from donors and from lucrative television contracts, and a flood of choice students.

The New York Times

Back in the glory days of Usenet, this was called "the September problem"; most participants were at universities, so every autumn brought a new flood of students.

TechCrunch

"We've created an environment that I believe will unleash a flood of excellence in student achievement," said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn)., chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions, immediately following the vote.

Huffington Post

This year, at a July 29 news conference announcing plans for an annex to accommodate the flood of students wanting to attend P.S. 8, a parade of public officials praised the school and its principal.

The New York Times

Officials feared a flood of bargain-seeking English students pushing Scots out of their own universities.

The New York Times

Bangor University introduced its one-year degree courses in Islamic finance after receiving a flood of inquiry from prospective students.

The New York Times

Mr. Vecchio's actions are strongly backed in Kings Park, where many of the hamlet's 16,000 residents fear a flood of new public school students if the state sells to Arker.

The New York Times

It occurred at that moment after the bell had rung and the gym teachers who patrolled the yard had returned inside, ahead of the flood of students, and the yard became a lawless zone — that terrible sudden reframing of space which could happen anywhere, even inside the corridors of the school.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a flood of students" to vividly describe situations where a large group of students arrives suddenly or unexpectedly, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of their arrival. For less dramatic increases, consider alternatives like "an influx of students" or "a growing number of students".

Common error

Avoid using "a flood of students" when the number of students is merely substantial but not overwhelming or disruptive. Using it in such contexts dilutes the impact of the phrase. Instead, opt for more neutral expressions like "many students" or "a large number of students".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a flood of students" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct. It denotes a large quantity of students arriving or appearing at once.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science & Research

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a flood of students" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase that describes a large number of students arriving or gathering, often with an implication of suddenness or overwhelming quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English. It's most frequently found in news and media, encyclopedias, and science articles, suggesting a neutral to slightly formal register. When using the phrase, consider the context and ensure it accurately reflects the scale and impact of the student presence. For less dramatic situations, alternatives like "an influx of students" or "a growing number of students" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an influx of students

Replaces "flood" with "influx", indicating a large number arriving but with a slightly less overwhelming connotation.

a surge of students

Uses "surge" instead of "flood", suggesting a sudden and strong increase in the number of students.

a wave of students

Replaces "flood" with "wave", implying a gradual but noticeable increase in student numbers.

a large number of students

A more general term for many students, lacking the sense of suddenness or overwhelming quantity.

a multitude of students

Replaces "flood" with "multitude", highlighting the numerous and diverse nature of the student population.

a throng of students

Uses "throng" instead of "flood", suggesting a densely packed group of students.

a stream of students

Replaces "flood" with "stream", implying a continuous flow of students.

an overabundance of students

Uses "overabundance" instead of "flood", suggesting an excessive or surplus number of students.

a plethora of students

Replaces "flood" with "plethora", highlighting the great quantity of students available or present.

a host of students

Uses "host" instead of "flood", suggesting a large gathering or assembly of students.

FAQs

What does "a flood of students" mean?

The phrase "a flood of students" describes a large number of students arriving or appearing suddenly and often unexpectedly, suggesting an overwhelming quantity.

What can I say instead of "a flood of students"?

You can use alternatives like "an influx of students", "a surge of students", or "a large number of students depending on the specific nuance you want to convey".

Is "a flood of students" a positive or negative expression?

The expression "a flood of students" is generally neutral but can sometimes carry a slightly negative connotation depending on the context, implying that the large number of students might be overwhelming or difficult to manage. Consider the context to choose the most fitting wording.

How can I use "a flood of students" in a sentence?

You can use "a flood of students" to describe a situation where many students gather. For example, "After the bell rang, "a flood of students" poured out of the classrooms."