a quantity of books

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a quantity of books" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an unspecified number of books, often in contexts discussing collections, inventory, or general discussions about books. Example: "The library received a quantity of books from the donation drive, which will be cataloged and made available to the public."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Back in the old days of print publishing, a publisher would distribute a known quantity of books to retailers.

Huffington Post

"You don't keep a large quantity of books around when they're not moving," said SUSAN DOERR, the marketing director for the distributor, Consortium.

The New York Times - Arts

The Streetscapes column last Sunday, about the effects of a planned redesign on the back facade of the New York Public Library in Midtown Manhattan, misstated the quantity of books to be moved off-site from the stacks.

The New York Times

Yet it wasn't so much the quantity of books that determined the value of the boxes (though quantity did matter) as the variety of titles.

The New Yorker

If a member of this service wants to read more, he/she can always invite others or review a book to earn more pages (books)." So��it's deliberately undercutting Amazon on pricing, by offering one lowered priced monthly offer and pay-as-you-go top-ups — while putting limits on the quantity of books the user can access without additional action or payment.

TechCrunch

Not to mention all the pills and medicines advertized [sic] to lose weight in few days and the quantity of books published every day on "miracle diets".

Huffington Post

Germany comes third in quantity of books published, after the English-speaking book market and the People's Republic of China.

Wikipedia

There was a quantity of things that men hated.

The New Yorker

That bidding inevitably involved them obtaining a quantity of drugs.

The Guardian

"Forget quality; aim now to get a quantity of answers.

The New Yorker

It can be hard to visualize a quantity of water.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a quantity of books", ensure the context clearly implies whether the quantity is significant or negligible. Use more specific terms like "several" or "large number" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a quantity of books" when a more precise term is appropriate. Overusing vague quantifiers weakens your writing. Instead of "a quantity of books", consider "three books", "many books", or "a few books".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a quantity of books" functions as a noun phrase acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It refers to an unspecified amount of books. The phrase is grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a quantity of books" is a grammatically correct phrase used to denote an unspecified number or amount of books. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While versatile, more specific quantifiers are often preferred for clarity. The phrase's neutrality makes it suitable for various contexts, but its frequency is currently unconfirmed due to a lack of examples. Therefore, use it judiciously, aiming for precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a number of books

Replaces "quantity" with "number", focusing on count rather than amount.

some books

A more general term indicating an unspecified amount of books.

several books

Indicates more than two but not a large number of books.

a collection of books

Emphasizes the grouping of books, rather than the amount.

a selection of books

Highlights that the books are chosen from a larger set.

a stack of books

Focuses on the physical arrangement of the books in a pile.

a pile of books

Similar to "stack", emphasizing a heap of books.

a large number of books

Specifies that the amount of books is significant.

an assortment of books

Suggests a variety of books.

multiple books

Simply indicates that there are more than one book.

FAQs

How can I use "a quantity of books" in a sentence?

You can use "a quantity of books" to refer to an unspecified number of books. For example, "The library received "a quantity of books" as a donation last week".

What's a more specific way to say "a quantity of books"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "several books", "many books", "a few books", or "a large number of books".

Is it better to use "number of books" or "quantity of books"?

Both "number of books" and "quantity of books" are grammatically correct. "Number" is generally used for countable items, making it slightly more common in this context. However, "quantity" is also acceptable.

What are some alternatives to "a quantity of books" when discussing a collection?

You could use phrases like "a collection of books", "an assortment of books", or "a selection of books".