a large number of documents

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a large number of documents" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a significant quantity of documents in various contexts, such as reports, files, or records. Example: "The audit revealed a large number of documents that needed to be reviewed for compliance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

But industry officials say that many people found individual shredders costly and time-consuming to use, especially when a large number of documents were to be destroyed.

The New York Times

Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized a large number of documents in August from the headquarters of the company, Applied Pharmacy Services Inc., in Mobile.

The New York Times

"The destruction by the radiological protection service of a large number of documents, with no record of what has been destroyed, is alarming," they say.

The Guardian

The Senate Finance Committee has opened an investigation into allegations of wrongdoing at Tenet Healthcare and requested yesterday that the company produce a large number of documents for the inquiry.

The New York Times

And tomorrow, Sierra Leone's attorney general, Solomon Berewa, plans to begin making public a large number of documents found in the looted house of Mr. Sankoh, whose whereabouts are now unknown.

The New York Times

But within two minutes he was ushered into the president's office, where he found Lincoln seated "in a low armchair with his feet extended on the floor, surrounded by a large number of documents and several busy secretaries".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

However, it takes a long search time for a large number of document set.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Like any other scientific domain, document analysis and recognition community (DAR) has also developed a large number of document databases.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

In Hamarøy municipality there is a large number of documented physical cultural remains related to reindeer pastoralism.

Quaternary International

There are a large number of documented and imputed effects of climate change on health, operating through an even larger set of direct and indirect processes.

Global Health Action

Although popular depictions of social chemosignaling typically highlight cross-gender interactions, a large number of documented social chemosignaling effects in both rodents and humans highlight the role of within gender social chemosignaling as well.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you need to emphasize the sheer volume of documentation, using the phrase "a large number of documents" can be effective. Be sure the context supports the use of a formal tone if you are employing it in formal writing.

Common error

While "a large number of documents" is grammatically correct, it can sound stilted in informal settings. Opt for more natural alternatives like "many documents" or "tons of documentation" depending on your audience and the desired tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a large number of documents" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. The phrase indicates a quantity of documents that is considered to be substantial. Ludwig examples showcase its use in formal and informal writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a large number of documents" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to describe a significant quantity of documents. According to Ludwig's analysis, this phrase is commonly found in News & Media and Science sources. While perfectly acceptable, remember that in informal contexts, you can opt for alternatives such as "numerous documents" or "many documents". Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is appropriate for formal use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant quantity of documents

Replaces "large number" with "significant quantity", emphasizing the substantial amount.

a substantial volume of documents

Substitutes "large number" with "substantial volume", highlighting the considerable size or extent.

numerous documents

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adjective, making it more concise.

a multitude of documents

Emphasizes the great quantity of documents, suggesting a very high number.

a vast collection of documents

Highlights the comprehensive and extensive nature of the document set.

an extensive array of documents

Focuses on the wide variety and scope of the documents.

a considerable amount of paperwork

Shifts the focus to the tangible aspect of documents and uses a more colloquial term.

a mountain of paperwork

Uses a metaphorical term to describe the overwhelming quantity of documents.

an abundance of files

Replaces "documents" with "files", more suitable for digital or organized collections.

tons of documentation

Uses a very informal term ("tons") to express a large quantity of documents in a non-specific way.

FAQs

How can I use "a large number of documents" in a sentence?

You can use "a large number of documents" to describe a significant quantity of records, files, or paperwork. For example, "The investigation involved reviewing "a large number of documents" to uncover the truth."

What are some alternatives to "a large number of documents"?

You can use alternatives like "numerous documents", "a significant quantity of documents", or "a substantial volume of documents" depending on the context.

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

Both phrases are correct, but "many documents" is generally more concise and suitable for informal contexts. "A large number of documents" is more formal and can be used when you want to emphasize the quantity more explicitly.

What's the difference between "a large number of documents" and "a large amount of documents"?

"A large number of documents" is the correct phrase. "Number" is used for countable items like documents, while "amount" is used for uncountable quantities (e.g. "a large amount of water").