a multitude of colours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a multitude of colours" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a wide variety or large number of different colors in a context such as art, design, or nature. Example: "The artist's palette was filled with a multitude of colours, each more vibrant than the last."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The salt crystals create sculptures of various shapes and sizes, and a multitude of colours thanks to the sulphur and potassium salts coloured by various ions.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yaks also do not come in one uniform colour: they can be a multitude of different colours.

WikiHow

Grey the waters of the North Sea may be; but Pye has successfully dyed them with a multitude of rich colours.

The Guardian - Books

BuzzFeed has created 50 Shades of Angela Merkel, a glorious Pantone chart of the German chancellor wearing a multitude of different colours.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Pygmy grasshoppers are small (up to 15-mm body length, 0.07 g), diurnal, ground dwelling insects that exhibit a multitude of discrete colour morphs within populations [20], [21].

Plosone

Pygmy grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) exhibit a multitude of discrete colour morphs within populations [20], [21] (Figure 1), and provide a good model system to explore the roles of diversity and relatedness.

Plosone

The use of colour has a multitude of functions in both the pre- and post-processing stages in CFD.

Optics & Laser Technology

A multitude of medications are cited as inducing colour change within the tissues of the mouth.

BMC Oral Health

"EC permitted additives" covers a multitude of sins, including 4,000 chemicals and artificial colours banned for human consumption.

The Guardian

Insects offer a multitude of examples for the coexistence of two or more colour morphs in groups such as grasshoppers, mantoids, cicadids, damselflies, lepidopterans and beetles [ 13– 15].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

In 1665, Robert Hooke, pioneer observer of the living world under a magnifying glass, waxed lyrical about these "small silver-colour'd book-worms", describing how a "multitude of their reflecting scales, which from the multiplicity of their reflecting surfaces, make the whole animal appear of a perfect pearly-colour".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing visual scenes or artistic creations, use "a multitude of colours" to vividly convey the presence of numerous and varied colors.

Common error

Avoid using "a multitude of colours" repeatedly in the same piece of writing; instead, vary your descriptions with more specific color names or other descriptive phrases to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a multitude of colours" functions as a descriptive noun phrase, modifying a noun to indicate the presence of numerous and varied colors. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a multitude of colours" is a grammatically sound and descriptive way to express a wide variety of colors. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not overly common, it is suitable for a range of contexts, particularly in news, science, and descriptive writing. For more concise descriptions, alternatives like "many colors" or "various colors" may be preferable, but "a multitude of colours" vividly emphasizes diversity and abundance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

many colors

Replaces "multitude" with a simpler quantifier, reducing formality.

various colors

Substitutes "multitude" with "various", emphasizing variety.

a wide array of colors

Uses "wide array" instead of "multitude", adding a visual dimension.

a spectrum of colors

Emphasizes the range of colors present, implying a continuous sequence.

a rainbow of colors

Invokes a vivid image of diverse and vibrant colors.

a range of colors

Focuses on the extent of the color variation.

an abundance of colors

Highlights the plentiful nature of the colors present.

a profusion of colors

Implies an extravagant display of colors.

a wealth of colors

Conveys the richness and variety of the colors.

assorted colors

Highlights that the colors are different and grouped together.

FAQs

How can I use "a multitude of colours" in a sentence?

You can use "a multitude of colours" to describe scenes with many different colors, such as: "The garden displayed "a multitude of colours" in the spring."

What's the difference between "a multitude of colours" and "many colors"?

"A multitude of colours" is more descriptive and emphasizes a wide variety, while "many colors" is a simpler, more direct way to indicate numerous colors.

Which is more appropriate, "a multitude of colours" or "a variety of colours"?

Both "a multitude of colours" and "a variety of colours" are appropriate, but "a multitude of colours" suggests a greater quantity or diversity.

What can I say instead of "a multitude of colours" to describe a smaller range?

For a smaller range of colors, consider using phrases like "a range of colours", a few colours, or several colours depending on the context.