a lot of students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lot of students" is a correct and usable term in written English.
For example, you could say "There were a lot of students at the lecture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's still a lot of students.

The New York Times

Still a lot of students.

Cornell University

He helped a lot of students.

The New York Times

Diaz's worries are shared by a lot of students.

The New York Times

A lot of students now are in different Facebook groups.

The Guardian

"A lot of students will not be able to come".

The New York Times

Indeed, a lot of students – male students, included – already are.

The Guardian - Opinion

A lot of students were kicked out as a result.

The Guardian - Arts

But there are a lot of students from other places.

The New York Times

A lot of students came out into the streets protesting.

The New York Times

"A lot of students feel they're way over their head," he says.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a formal audience, consider using more precise quantifiers like "many students" or "a significant number of students" instead of "a lot of students".

Common error

Avoid using "a lot of students" in highly formal or academic writing; opt for more precise or sophisticated synonyms to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lot of students" functions as a determiner phrase modifying the noun "students". It quantifies the noun, indicating a large quantity. This is supported by Ludwig's analysis and examples that show its use in various contexts to denote a significant number of students.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

24%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a lot of students" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression for indicating a large number of students. Ludwig confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples across various sources. While suitable for general use, including news and media, it may be less appropriate for highly formal or academic writing, where alternatives like "many students" or "a significant number of students" might be preferred. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts, reflecting its common usage in describing student populations and activities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

many students

Replaces "a lot of" with the more formal quantifier "many".

a large number of students

More formal and emphasizes the size of the group.

numerous students

Uses a more sophisticated synonym for "many".

a great deal of students

Emphasizes quantity in a slightly different way.

plenty of students

Implies more than enough students.

a multitude of students

Suggests a very large and almost uncountable number.

considerable number of students

Highlights that the number is worth paying attention to.

substantial number of students

Similar to 'considerable', but slightly more formal.

a good number of students

Indicates a reasonably large quantity.

loads of students

A more informal way to express a large quantity.

FAQs

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

You can use alternatives like "many students", "numerous students", or "a large number of students" depending on the context.

Is "a lot of students" grammatically correct?

Yes, "a lot of students" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. However, its formality may vary depending on the context.

How to use "a lot of students" in a sentence?

You can use "a lot of students" to indicate a large number of students, such as: "A lot of students attended the lecture." or "A lot of students are interested in this course."

What's the difference between "a lot of students" and "many students"?

While both phrases indicate a large quantity of students, "many students" is generally considered more formal than "a lot of students". Using many students is often preferred in academic or professional writing.