a horrendous amount of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a horrendous amount of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an excessive or overwhelming quantity of something, often with a negative connotation. Example: "The project required a horrendous amount of resources, far more than we had anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Money

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

That's a horrendous amount of money".

The New York Times - Sports

"It was a horrendous amount of money," Ms. Chase said.

The New York Times - Health

He added, "If there was going to be a horrendous amount of corporate money thrown at her, then we'd have to sit down with her".

The New York Times - Sports

And there was the "Vatileaks" affair, which revealed a horrendous amount of intrigue, power struggles, corruption and sexual lapses in the Curia, and which seems to be a main reason Benedict has decided to resign.

The New York Times

Perhaps Nevada matters less to you than Washington does, but transporting the waste to this state would potentially cost a horrendous number of lives and/or a horrendous amount of money.

The New York Times

It is the most awful process; there is a horrendous amount of paperwork, and somehow you are made to feel that you are the one at fault," she says.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"I also went through a very bad divorce which left me with legal bills of £12,000-£15,000, wasch was a horrendous amount for a single parent.

The Guardian - Money

Our mortgage was £30 a month, which I thought was a horrendous amount but my husband didn't.

The Guardian - Money

Democrats plan to spend horrendous amounts of money on a response in 2020, but Republicans have the upper hand, and already have started planning for REDMAP 2020.

Huffington Post

However, he adds, it can vary enormously and some people expel "horrendous" amounts of blood.

Independent

In a 2008 interview, Corey Taylor said that he only met Rubin four times during the entire recording process of Vol. 3 The Subliminal Verses and that Rubin barely ever showed up to the studio: "...we were being charged horrendous amounts of money.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a horrendous amount of", consider the context and ensure the negative connotation aligns with your intended meaning. If you want to emphasize scale without negativity, consider using alternatives like "a significant amount of".

Common error

While "a horrendous amount of" is acceptable, frequent use can make your writing seem less professional. In formal reports or academic papers, consider more neutral alternatives like "a significant quantity of" or "an excessive amount of" to maintain a more objective tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a horrendous amount of" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, indicating a large quantity of something with a negative connotation. Ludwig confirms its usability and grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Money

12%

Sports

12%

Less common in

Lifestyle

4%

Wiki

4%

Science

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a horrendous amount of" is used to describe a quantity perceived as excessively large and undesirable. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is grammatically correct and usable in written English, particularly in news media. While versatile, its negative connotation suggests caution in overly formal contexts where more neutral alternatives like "significant amount" or "substantial quantity" might be preferable. Examples show the phrase often accompanies topics related to money, debt, or negative experiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an appalling quantity of

Replaces "horrendous" with "appalling", intensifying the negative connotation.

a staggering amount of

Highlights the surprising and overwhelming nature of the quantity.

an outrageous sum of

Focuses specifically on money and emphasizes excessiveness.

an alarming quantity of

Highlights the worrying or concerning nature of the amount.

a shocking quantity of

Emphasizes the surprise and negativity associated with the amount.

a massive amount of

Emphasizes the largeness in scale.

an excessive quantity of

More formal, focusing on the amount being beyond what's reasonable.

an inordinate number of

Emphasizes that the number is beyond normal limits.

a considerable quantity of

Less negative, highlighting the significant size or extent.

a substantial volume of

Focuses on volume, often used for physical quantities.

FAQs

How can I use "a horrendous amount of" in a sentence?

You can use "a horrendous amount of" to describe an excessively large quantity of something negative or undesirable. For example, "The project required "a horrendous amount of" resources, far more than we anticipated."

What can I say instead of "a horrendous amount of"?

You can use alternatives like "an appalling quantity of", "a staggering amount of", or "an excessive quantity of" depending on the context and desired emphasis.

Is it appropriate to use "a horrendous amount of" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a horrendous amount of" carries a strong negative connotation and might be perceived as too informal for certain formal contexts. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "a significant amount of" or "a considerable amount of".

What is the difference between "a horrendous amount of" and "a significant amount of"?

"A horrendous amount of" emphasizes the extremely negative or undesirable nature of the quantity, while "a significant amount of" simply indicates that the quantity is notably large without necessarily implying a negative judgment.