a prescribed number

USAGE SUMMARY

The term 'a prescribed number' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a specific, predetermined amount or quantity, such as when describing a limit set by an authority or rule. For example, "The school has a prescribed number of students allowed in each class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

The alternative mesh optimality criteria allow us to attain maximum of accuracy with a prescribed number of elements or a prescribed memory size or a prescribed cpu time.

Finite Elements in Analysis and Design

If they are not, the trait would vanish after a prescribed number of generations.

The New Yorker

For instance, you can get quality circles going simply by having a prescribed number of people attend regular meetings.

Harvard Business Review

The New York Times recently announced plans to introduce a pay wall for online visitors who read more than a prescribed number of articles.

The Guardian

Under current New York State law, Republican candidates must collect thousands of signatures on nominating petitions, a prescribed number in each Congressional district, to get on the ballot.

The New York Times

Film lovers today have access to a prescribed number of movies on streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, and other niche channels.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Kang and Wei [14] established the existence of positive solutions with any prescribed number of spikes, clustering around a given local maximum point of the potential function.

Boundary Value Problems

According to the first procedure, the so-called truncated multinomial randomization design, the allocation process starts with the uniform distribution, until a treatment receives the prescribed number of subjects, after which this uniform distribution switches to the remaining treatments, and so on.

Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference

The limiting behavior of these two procedures is shown to be quite different in the sense that for the random allocation rule the instant, at which a treatment gets its prescribed number of subjects, comes much later (after n−O(1) rather than n−O(√n) subject assignments).

Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference

The data were expressed as overall compliance (OC), defined as the observed number of bottle openings as a percentage of the prescribed number of doses, and as two indices representing daily and hourly irregularities in the times of opening.

British Journal of Cancer

In addition, a player who made the prescribed number of moves, such as 30 in the example above, would get an additional time budget, such as one hour for the next 15 moves.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a prescribed number", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is doing the prescribing, and the basis for the prescription.

Common error

Avoid using "a prescribed number" without clarifying the source or authority that set the number. Instead of saying "Complete a prescribed number of exercises", specify "Complete the number of exercises prescribed by your doctor".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a prescribed number" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It indicates a specific, predetermined quantity or amount, as shown by Ludwig's examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

29%

Science

27%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a prescribed number" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase indicating a predetermined quantity or amount. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to convey requirements, limitations, or controls across diverse contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about the source or authority prescribing the number to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "a designated amount" or "a set quantity" can be employed depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a designated amount

Emphasizes the act of assigning or specifying a particular quantity.

a set quantity

Highlights the fixed and unchangeable nature of the amount.

a fixed number

Similar to 'a set quantity', but places greater emphasis on the numerical aspect.

a predetermined quantity

Focuses on the fact that the amount was decided in advance.

a specified amount

Highlights the act of explicitly stating the quantity.

an allocated number

Suggests the quantity has been assigned for a specific purpose.

a stipulated quantity

Implies the amount is part of a formal agreement or requirement.

a required number

Highlights that this amount is necessary or mandatory.

a quota

Refers to a specific, limited amount or number that is officially permitted or required.

a given number

Indicates a number that is assumed or known.

FAQs

How can I use "a prescribed number" in a sentence?

You can use "a prescribed number" to refer to a specific, predetermined quantity, such as "The medication should be taken for "a prescribed number" of days".

What's a good alternative to "a prescribed number"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a designated amount", "a set quantity", or "a specified amount".

Is it always necessary to specify who is prescribing the number?

While not always grammatically required, specifying the source of the prescription (e.g., "a doctor prescribed number", "a rule prescribed number") enhances clarity and provides context for the reader.

What is the difference between "a prescribed number" and "a certain number"?

"A prescribed number" indicates a specific, predetermined amount set by some authority or rule. "A certain number" implies an unspecified, but likely known, quantity. For example, "Follow instructions "a prescribed number" of times" vs. "I have seen him "a certain number" of times".