a large number of workers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a large number of workers" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to express that there are many workers present in a particular situation or setting. For example, "A large number of workers were present in the factory when I visited it last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A large number of workers from Alsace commute to factories in Germany and Switzerland.

Britannica

It has closed manufacturing plants, hired contract manufacturers to build laptops and laid off a large number of workers.

The New York Times

In addition, because airports employ such a large number of workers, extensive provision must be made for their daily requirements.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It has a large number of workers in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and last year earned 50% of its £129m revenues from work in Iraq.

The Guardian

Sports Direct employs a large number of workers at its main Shirebrook warehouse who do not have English as their first language.

The Guardian - Business

The first experiment studies a large number of workers screened by big UAE firms – some qualify but do not go to the UAE, others qualify and go to the UAE, and yet others do not qualify.

Columbia University

Amazon, which employs a large number of workers at distribution centers, reported late last year that its ethnic diversity exceeded the US average, with a global workforce that was 21% black, 13% Hispanic, 11% Asian and 5% other ethnicities.

The Guardian - Tech

Organizations were shaped like pyramids with a few executives at the top, a wider layer of middle-level managers and staff and a large number of workers at the bottom.

The New York Times

Ms Mayer, who is on a brief maternity leave after giving birth to twins last week, says the overhaul will jettison Yahoo's least profitable products - a shake-up that could lay off a large number of workers.

The Telegraph

The position of a large number of workers contracted to work for the government is uncertain.As a condition of passing a budget, Republicans insist that Barack Obama's health reform be defunded or delayed.

The Economist

If Twitter goes public in San Francisco and a large number of workers exercise their options, the city would tax the company on its employees' stock gains — a bill likely to amount to tens of millions of dollars.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a large number of workers", ensure the context provides relevant information about the workers' role, industry, or impact. For example, "A large number of workers in the manufacturing sector are facing job displacement due to automation."

Common error

Don't use "a large number of workers" without providing any specific details or context. Instead, aim for more clarity, such as "A large number of healthcare workers are experiencing burnout due to the ongoing pandemic."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a large number of workers" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object in a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, indicating its established role in English syntax.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

48%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a large number of workers" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a significant quantity of workers. As Ludwig AI validates, it's suitable for neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic settings. While versatile, it's crucial to provide specific details about the workers' role and the context surrounding their activities to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "many employees" or "a significant workforce" may be more fitting depending on the desired tone and emphasis. The high frequency and widespread use across authoritative sources confirm its reliability and acceptance in standard English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

many employees

Replaces "number of workers" with "employees" for a more direct reference to those employed.

a significant workforce

Substitutes "large number" with "significant" and rephrases "workers" as "workforce", emphasizing the group's impact.

numerous laborers

Replaces "workers" with "laborers", implying manual labor.

a substantial contingent of staff

Replaces "large number of workers" with "a substantial contingent of staff", making it more formal.

a multitude of personnel

Replaces "workers" with "personnel" to denote staff in a formal sense.

a high volume of employees

Substitutes "large number" with "high volume", focusing on the quantity of employees.

an extensive body of workers

Replaces "large number" with "extensive body", suggesting a comprehensive collection of workers.

a considerable amount of manpower

Replaces "workers" with "manpower", focusing on the resource aspect.

loads of staff members

Substitutes "a large number" with the informal expression "loads of", changing the tone.

plenty of working people

Replaces "workers" with "working people", providing a more descriptive phrasing.

FAQs

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

You can use "a large number of workers" to describe the scale or impact of workforce related issues. For instance, "A large number of workers are affected by the new policy."

What's the difference between "a large number of workers" and "many workers"?

"A large number of workers" emphasizes the sheer quantity and can sound more formal than "many workers", which is a simpler and more direct way to express a similar idea.

What can I say instead of "a large number of workers"?

Alternatives to "a large number of workers" include "many employees", "a significant workforce", or "numerous laborers", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "a large number of workers" always the best phrase to use, or are there times when another phrase is more appropriate?

While "a large number of workers" is generally acceptable, phrases like "a significant workforce" or "many employees" might be better suited in specific contexts where you want to emphasize impact or simply be more concise.