a number of boxes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a number of boxes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to several boxes without specifying an exact quantity. Example: "We need to move a number of boxes to the new office by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Nigel Pearson may also tick a number of boxes.

The Guardian - Sport

No one-trick pony, the restaurant checks off a number of boxes.

The Washington Post

The authorities took a number of boxes of materials from Mr. Williams's home.

The New York Times

In its original form, stamp scrip was a piece of paper on which a number of boxes were printed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Each level assigns you a number of boxes to create from your own image, and players must utilise these to reach the goal.

Independent

As an example, the Chelicerate systematics page features a cladogram, shown below, with a number of boxes representing the various groups of chelicerates: arachnids, xiphosurans (horseshoe crabs), eurypterids (sea scorpions), and so forth.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

The opening for "Shrek 2" broke or flirted with breaking a number of box-office records.

The New York Times

Johnson came to Paris in 1913 and participated in a number of boxing exhibitions organised by the Nouveau Cirque.

The Guardian - Books

This past September, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., announced his retirement, and although plenty of boxing fans won't miss him, a number of boxing executives surely will.

The New Yorker

What outsiders and major news entities didn't appear to understand, however, is that the rapid expansion in boxing coverage irks a number of boxing's fans.

The Guardian - Sport

We have already seen a number of box sets and compilations, some when he died, some when Jamie Foxx impersonated him in "Ray".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a number of boxes" when you want to indicate that there are several boxes without specifying an exact amount. For instance, "We received a number of boxes today."

Common error

Avoid using "the number of boxes" when you mean "a number of boxes". "The number of boxes" refers to a specific count that you are about to quantify, while "a number of boxes" simply means several boxes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a number of boxes" functions as a determiner phrase modifying the noun "boxes". It indicates a quantity that is more than one but not precisely specified. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a number of boxes" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression indicating the presence of several boxes without specifying an exact quantity. Ludwig AI confirms this usage. It commonly appears in news and media, scientific, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you're conveying an inexact quantity greater than one, and avoid confusing it with "the number of boxes", which implies a specific, quantifiable amount. Alternative phrases include "several boxes" and "multiple boxes".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several boxes

Replaces "a number of" with "several", indicating more than two but not many.

multiple boxes

Substitutes "a number of" with "multiple", emphasizing the existence of more than one box.

various boxes

Replaces "a number of" with "various", highlighting the diversity or variety of the boxes.

some boxes

Uses "some" instead of "a number of", indicating an unspecified quantity of boxes.

a few boxes

Employs "a few" to denote a small quantity of boxes.

a quantity of boxes

Replaces "a number of" with "a quantity of", formalizing the expression.

a collection of boxes

Changes the focus to a collection, implying a set of boxes gathered together.

a group of boxes

Similar to "a collection of", but emphasizes the boxes as a unit.

many boxes

Replaces "a number of" with "many", generally signifying a large quantity.

an assortment of boxes

Focuses on the variety of boxes included in the assortment.

FAQs

What does "a number of boxes" mean?

The phrase "a number of boxes" means several boxes, indicating an unspecified quantity greater than two.

What can I say instead of "a number of boxes"?

You can use alternatives like "several boxes", "multiple boxes", or "various boxes" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the number of boxes" instead of "a number of boxes"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct, they have different meanings. "A number of boxes" implies an unspecified quantity. "The number of boxes" refers to a specific, quantifiable amount.

How do I use "a number of boxes" in a sentence?

You can use "a number of boxes" in a sentence like this: "The movers delivered "a number of boxes" to our new home."