a host of explanations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a host of explanations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a large number of different reasons or justifications for something. Example: "The teacher provided a host of explanations for the complex topic, ensuring that all students understood the material."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Despite a host of explanations, some heard more clearly than others without the help of surtitles, I emerged no wiser as to the solution.

The Guardian

Team members and other experts have proposed a host of explanations for the whale sounds, among them that the animal is malformed or, most likely, a hybrid of a blue whale and another species.

The New York Times

As for the thunderbolts and earthquakes, they are of course, among the many natural physical phenomena for which Lucretius gives a host of explanations in his fifth and sixth books; none of those explanations, of course, involve the gods.

The Guardian - Opinion

Team members and other experts have proposed a host of explanations for the whale sounds, among them that the animal is malformed or, most likely, is a hybrid of a blue whale and another species.

The New York Times - Science

In a blog post, Tapity founder Jeremy Olson offers a host of explanations for "Buffalo Wings," including, well yeah, it might make them a little money thanks to its in-app ads.

TechCrunch

A study in 2009 of seven mitochondrial genes (mtDNA) and three nuclear genes grouped fork-marked lemurs with sportive lemurs (family Lepilemuridae), offering a host of explanations, such as a possible hybridization (introgression) following the initial split between the families.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

As to the question of the underlying causes of violence against women, there's suggestive research which points to an increasingly skewed sex ratio — that is, more men than women, which is due in part to sex-selective abortion and in part to higher mortality of women in later life — as being one possible explanation among a host of candidate explanations.

The New York Times

In their effort to decipher the essence of Confederate defeat, historians have pointed to the slaveholding republic's lack of military and industrial resources, a stubborn devotion to state rights principles, inept political leadership, and the inability to foster a real sense of nationalism among the nation's populace, along with a host of other explanations.

Johns Hopkins University

There are a host of reasons and explanations put forward by experts.

BBC

Furthermore, in most cases the communities evolve through a blend of models, with a host of ad hoc explanations.

F1000Research

And although quasi-experimental methods can overcome this barrier, a host of validity assumptions must be tested before causal explanations are supported.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a host of explanations", ensure the context clearly benefits from emphasizing the quantity of explanations. If the number isn't significant, consider using "several" or "various" for conciseness.

Common error

Avoid using "a host of explanations" when a simpler phrase like "some explanations" or "several reasons" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a host of explanations" functions as a noun phrase, serving to quantify the number of explanations provided. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples show its use in various contexts to indicate a substantial number of reasons or justifications.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a host of explanations" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for indicating a large number of reasons or justifications, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, though it also appears in academic and scientific writing. While effective for emphasizing quantity, it's important to avoid overuse in simple contexts where more concise alternatives like "many explanations" or "several reasons" would suffice. The phrase carries a neutral tone, making it suitable for a variety of formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a multitude of explanations

This alternative replaces "a host of" with "a multitude of", emphasizing the large number.

many explanations

This alternative is more concise, replacing "a host of" with "many".

numerous explanations

This alternative uses "numerous" to convey the large quantity of explanations.

an abundance of explanations

This choice uses "abundance" to focus on the plentiful supply of explanations.

a number of explanations

This alternative is similar in structure but slightly less emphatic than the original phrase.

a wide array of explanations

This alternative uses "a wide array of" to suggest a diverse range of explanations.

a plethora of explanations

This option uses "plethora" for a more emphatic, and perhaps slightly exaggerated, sense of abundance.

a wealth of explanations

This alternative uses "wealth" to imply a rich and abundant supply of explanations.

various explanations

This alternative is a simpler and more direct way of saying there are several explanations.

several explanations

This is a simpler substitute, indicating more than a few explanations exist.

FAQs

How can I use "a host of explanations" in a sentence?

You can use "a host of explanations" to indicate that there are many reasons or justifications for something. For example, "The expert provided "a host of explanations" for the phenomenon".

What can I say instead of "a host of explanations"?

You can use alternatives like "many explanations", "numerous explanations", or "a multitude of explanations" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "a host of explanations" or "many explanations"?

"A host of explanations" can sound slightly more formal or emphatic than "many explanations", but both are generally acceptable in most contexts.

Which is correct, "a host of explanations" or "hosts of explanations"?

"A host of explanations" is the correct and more common form. "Hosts of explanations" is grammatically possible, but less frequently used and may sound awkward.