a mountain of emails

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mountain of emails" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an overwhelming amount of emails that one needs to address or manage. Example: "After returning from vacation, I was greeted with a mountain of emails that took me hours to sort through."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

'I'm waking up at 5am, going downstairs to a mountain of emails, and coming home from work to more.

The Guardian

They are demanding a mountain of emails pertaining to his dealing with the Kochs, as well as emails mentioning other groups, such as the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Forbes

"A mountain of emails, overdue reports and unexpected staffing changes can make the return to work so traumatic that many people won't take all of their holiday entitlement, which in time can lead them into a spiral of stress, depression and illness," wrote Anita Pickerden, a Birmingham, UK-based work life balance coach in an email.

BBC

Mindfulness involves disconnecting from your activity-laden environment (which is often comprised of facing a mountain of emails and texts and earnestly making attempts to comply with work-related deadlines) and focusing only on the task with which you're currently faced.

Huffington Post

There's much more to do than time in which to do it; a mountain of emails to answer, a forest of fires to put out... and that's before we even get to the "real work" we're supposed to get done in a given day.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

With this four-level hierarchy��in place, you basically have a mountain of email that trickles down from most important to least important in an easy-to-digest manner.

TechCrunch

Bill Chase, Geneva A mountain of debt?

The New York Times

Which team was this?" asked one knowledge-hungry reader whose name we'd inexplicably lost under a mountain of Knowledge emails, back in February 2003.

The Guardian - Sport

It wasn't until we re-entered the People's Republic of Hackney that the mountain of emails had to be faced again.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hunt revealed he considered resigning after the mountain of emails and texts between Smith and Michel emerged at the Leveson inquiry in April, but he told the inquiry it was not appropriate because he had acted "scrupulously fairly".

The Guardian

So, when you start getting engaged in your work again, when you start getting excited to go to work, to see your colleagues, to dive into the projects, including the difficult ones, and the mountain of emails or case files or whatever it is, that's, to me, a symptom of the burnout going down because the engagement is going up.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "a mountain of emails" to vividly describe a situation where someone is facing an overwhelming number of emails, often implying a sense of being burdened or stressed.

Common error

Avoid using "a mountain of emails" repeatedly in the same piece of writing. Vary your language with alternatives like "a deluge of emails" or "an abundance of emails" to maintain reader engagement and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mountain of emails" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes the quantity of emails, often implying a sense of being overwhelmed. As Ludwig explains, this is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a mountain of emails" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to depict a situation where one is confronted with an overwhelmingly large number of emails. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English. While alternatives like "a deluge of emails" or "an abundance of emails" exist, "a mountain of emails" vividly conveys the burden and stress associated with managing a high volume of digital correspondence. Predominantly found in news and business contexts, this phrase serves as a succinct way to describe a common challenge in modern communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an abundance of emails

This alternative suggests a plentiful supply of emails, slightly less overwhelming.

a deluge of emails

This alternative conveys a sense of being flooded or overwhelmed by emails.

a flood of emails

Similar to "a deluge", this implies a large, overwhelming number of emails arriving at once.

a sea of emails

This alternative evokes a vast, seemingly endless quantity of emails.

a heap of emails

This suggests a large, disorganized pile of emails.

a backlog of emails

This alternative implies emails that have accumulated and need to be addressed.

an inbox overloaded with emails

This describes the state of an email account overwhelmed by messages.

numerous emails

A more neutral alternative, simply indicating a large quantity of emails without the negative connotation.

countless emails

Emphasizes that the emails are too many to be counted.

a plethora of emails

This alternative indicates a large and excessive amount of emails.

FAQs

How can I use "a mountain of emails" in a sentence?

You can use "a mountain of emails" to describe an overwhelming number of messages, such as, "After the conference, I returned to "a mountain of emails" in my inbox".

What's the difference between "a mountain of emails" and "a flood of emails"?

"A mountain of emails" suggests a large, imposing pile, while "a flood of emails" implies a sudden and overwhelming influx. The nuance lies in the image evoked: accumulation versus inundation.

Is it appropriate to use "a mountain of emails" in professional communication?

Yes, "a mountain of emails" is generally acceptable in professional settings, especially when describing a large workload. However, consider the tone and audience; in some cases, a more formal phrase like "a significant volume of correspondence" might be more suitable.

What are some alternatives to "a mountain of emails"?

Alternatives include "a deluge of emails", "a sea of emails", "a backlog of emails", or simply "many emails", depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.