a number of detainees have been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a number of detainees have been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the status or actions related to multiple detainees in a specific context. Example: "A number of detainees have been released following the recent policy changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But over the last month, a number of detainees have been released or deported.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Another said a number of detainees had been assaulted by guards on a recent charter flight to Lagos.

The Guardian

In São Paulo, 55.1% of detainees have been identified as infected individuals with previous arrests, and 75.6% have LTBI [ 21].

BMC Infectious Diseases

They sat totem-faced as he described how large numbers of detainees had been blindfolded, beaten, electrocuted and threatened with rape by their security forces.

Huffington Post

Iraq's Interior Ministry detention centers, which hold the largest numbers of pretrial detainees, have been run primarily by Shiites and have a record of overcrowding and abuse against the predominantly Sunni detainee population.

The New York Times

The government called the claims "over-exaggerated", but admitted a number of female detainees had been mistreated.

BBC

About half of the detainees have been cleared for return to their home countries, mostly Yemen.

The New York Times

In all 20 of the 30 detainees have been bailed, with one actually released.

BBC

And that's hardly the worst of the ways detainees have been characterized.

Los Angeles Times

The number of inmates may come down to 90 by early January, as 17 detainees have been approved for transfer.

The Guardian

Three detainees have been hospitalised.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a number of detainees have been", ensure the verb tense following "been" is consistent with the intended meaning and time frame, such as "released", "transferred", or "interviewed".

Common error

Avoid using singular verbs after "detainees". The phrase refers to multiple individuals, so always use plural verb forms: "a number of detainees have been," not "a number of detainees has been."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a number of detainees have been" functions as a subject complement, indicating that several individuals held in detention have experienced a specific condition or action. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a number of detainees have been" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that several individuals in detention have experienced a specific event or are in a particular state. Ludwig confirms its correctness. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts and carries a neutral tone, suitable for factual reporting. Remember to use plural verbs and ensure the verb tense aligns with the intended meaning. Alternatives such as "several detainees have been" or "many detainees have been" can be used to vary your phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Several detainees have been

Replaces "a number" with "several", indicating a few but not many.

Many detainees have been

Replaces "a number" with "many", suggesting a large quantity.

Numerous detainees have been

Substitutes "a number" with "numerous", emphasizing a large quantity in a more formal tone.

A group of detainees have been

Uses "a group" instead of "a number", specifying a collective body.

Some detainees have been

Replaces "a number" with "some", indicating an unspecified but not all.

Various detainees have been

Uses "various" instead of "a number", highlighting different individuals.

A few detainees have been

Replaces "a number" with "a few", indicating a small quantity.

Certain detainees have been

Uses "certain" to specify particular detainees.

Multiple detainees have been

Replaces "a number" with "multiple", specifying that there are more than one.

A proportion of detainees have been

Specifies a relative amount using "a proportion".

FAQs

How do I use "a number of detainees have been" in a sentence?

Use "a number of detainees have been" to indicate that multiple individuals held in detention have experienced a particular action or state. For example, "a number of detainees have been released due to new evidence".

What can I say instead of "a number of detainees have been"?

You can use alternatives like "several detainees have been", "many detainees have been", or "numerous detainees have been" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a number of detainees has been"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. Because "a number" implies more than one, the correct phrasing is "a number of detainees have been", using the plural form of the verb.

What's the difference between "a number of detainees have been" and "the number of detainees has been"?

"A number of detainees have been" emphasizes the individuals and implies plurality, while "the number of detainees has been" focuses on the quantity as a single unit. For instance, "the number of detainees has been reduced" focuses on the overall count.