a multitude of lines

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a multitude of lines" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large number of lines, whether in a literal or figurative context, such as in art, writing, or data representation. Example: "The artist created a stunning piece that featured a multitude of lines, intertwining to form a complex pattern."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

While it is commonplace to hear audiences exit praising actors' abilities to put a multitude of lines to memory, one often wants to respond: That's their job.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In the climactic casino scene there are onlookers, but there is no chorus, just a multitude of individual lines for comprimarios.

The New York Times - Arts

However, the implementation of mixture models quickly becomes more complex at higher numbers of covariates with missing data, requiring x n subpopulations in the mixture model for n covariates with missing data and x categories per covariate as well as a multitude of additional lines of code to cope with the estimation of the covariate effects.

AAPS Journal

To put it into the terms of the nineteenth-century English mathematician John Playfair, there exists a space in which, given a line and an external point, there is actually a multitude of other straight lines that intersect with the point, yet do not meet the original line.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Cavalieri nowhere explains precisely what he understands by the word "indivisible", but it is apparent that he conceived of a surface as composed of a multitude of equispaced parallel lines and of a volume as composed of equispaced parallel planes, these being termed the indivisibles of the surface and the volume respectively.

SEP

Instead of "seeing" a multitude of minute wavy lines, we translate it into an analog code - colors.

Huffington Post

Jaish and a multitude of other hard-line Islamic groups have helped make Karachi, with its overlay of radical Islamic edicts — cinemas barely exist, alcohol is essentially banned — a welcoming rear base for the Pakistani Taliban.

The New York Times

A multitude of efforts in line with these suggestions are currently underway (e.g., Hestia Project [ Gurney et al., 2012], Indianapolis Flux Experiment (http://influx.psu.edu/), Megacities Carbon Project [ Duren and Miller, 2012; Kort et al., 2012; Miller et al., 2012]) with a majority focusing on high-emitting urban areas.

Geophysical Research Letters

Inside, the pictures - as always, drawn by the author, each stripe in Mog's fur a multitude of carefully inked horizontal lines - have not aged.

The Guardian - Books

This genomic-based approach can be applied to a multitude of tumor-derived cell lines and drug treatments to generate requisite pre-clinical data for new drug combination therapies to pursue in clinical investigations.

Breast Cancer Research

The architecture critic Lewis Mumford, for example, described Levittown as "a multitude of uniform, unidentifiable houses, lined up inflexibly on uniform roads".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a multitude of lines", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes a 'line'. It could refer to lines of text, geometric lines, or lines in a visual representation.

Common error

Avoid using "a multitude of lines" when referring to only a few lines. The phrase implies a substantial and noticeable quantity, not a small number.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a multitude of lines" functions as a noun phrase, where "multitude" acts as the head noun modified by the adjective "a" and followed by the prepositional phrase "of lines". It describes a large quantity of lines. Ludwig provides examples where the phrase is used in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a multitude of lines" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon phrase used to depict a substantial quantity of lines. According to Ludwig, it finds its place across different contexts, mainly News & Media and Science. While not as prevalent as simpler alternatives like "many lines", it brings a more formal tone and emphasizes abundance. When employing this phrase, clarity is key—ensure the type of 'lines' is evident to your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

many lines

Simplifies the expression using a more common adjective.

numerous lines

Replaces "multitude" with a direct synonym.

a great number of lines

Expands the phrase while retaining the core meaning.

plenty of lines

Uses a more informal synonym for "multitude".

an abundance of lines

Emphasizes the plentiful quantity of lines.

a vast quantity of lines

Highlights the large amount of lines.

a sea of lines

Uses a metaphor to describe a large number of lines.

a myriad of lines

Employs a more sophisticated synonym for a large number.

oodles of lines

Uses a more informal and emphatic term for "many".

a profusion of lines

Highlights the lavish or extravagant quantity of lines.

FAQs

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

You can use "a multitude of lines" to describe visual patterns, textual content, or even abstract concepts involving many linear elements. For example: "The artist's work featured "a multitude of lines" creating an intricate design."

What's a good alternative to "a multitude of lines"?

Alternatives include "many lines", "numerous lines", or "a great number of lines", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it more appropriate to say "a multitude of lines" or "many lines"?

"A multitude of lines" is more formal and emphasizes a very large quantity, while "many lines" is simpler and more commonly used in everyday language. Choose the phrase that best suits the tone of your writing.

Does "a multitude of lines" always refer to physical lines?

No, "a multitude of lines" can also be used figuratively. For example, you could refer to ""a multitude of lines" of argument" in a debate, meaning many different arguments or points of view.