a raft of

USAGE SUMMARY

'a raft of' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a lot of different things or people. For example, "In my research, I found a raft of interesting facts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Users complained about a raft of things.

The New York Times

The report highlights a raft of failings.

The Guardian

It will bring a raft of challenges.

The Guardian - Opinion

And a raft of other diseases.

The Guardian

The producers wanted a raft of changes.

The Guardian - Music

A raft of Asian markets climbed new peaks as well.

The Economist

He would also do away with a raft of regulations.

The New York Times

A raft of luxurious boutiques and restaurants has opened.

The New York Times - Travel

The EU is preparing a raft of similar measures.

The Economist

Thus she has a raft of New York pals.

The New York Times - Style

He was followed by a raft of beardy imitators.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a raft of" to indicate a substantial quantity or variety of something, especially when the items are diverse or unexpected. It adds a touch of informality to your writing while still conveying a significant amount.

Common error

While "a raft of" is widely accepted, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing where a more precise or conventional term like "a large number of" or "a multitude of" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a raft of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically a quantifier, indicating a large quantity or number of something. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's a valid expression in English. The phrase modifies a noun, as illustrated in examples like "a raft of changes" or "a raft of challenges".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

9%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a raft of" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a significant quantity or variety of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used in English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it adds emphasis to the abundance of items being discussed. While appropriate for general use, be mindful of its slightly informal tone and consider more precise alternatives in highly formal writing. Common synonyms include "a multitude of" and "a plethora of", offering similar meanings with slight variations in nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a multitude of

Emphasizes the numerous aspect, focusing on the great number of items or entities.

a plethora of

Suggests an excessive amount, potentially more than is needed or desired.

a host of

Implies a large and impressive gathering or collection.

a great deal of

Focuses on the significant quantity, often used for uncountable nouns.

a large number of

A more formal and direct way of indicating a substantial quantity.

a wide array of

Highlights the diversity and variety within the large quantity.

an abundance of

Stresses the plentiful and overflowing nature of the quantity.

numerous

A concise adjective to indicate that something exists in large numbers.

a heap of

Implies a disorganized pile or collection, often used informally.

a stack of

Suggests items neatly arranged one on top of another.

FAQs

How can I use "a raft of" in a sentence?

You can use "a raft of" to describe a large number of things. For example, "The project encountered "a raft of obstacles"." It is often used to emphasize the variety or unexpected nature of the items.

What's a good alternative to "a raft of"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a multitude of", "a plethora of", or "a host of" to convey a similar meaning. Choose the alternative that best fits the tone and formality of your writing.

Is "a raft of" appropriate for formal writing?

While "a raft of" is widely understood, it can sound slightly informal. In very formal or academic contexts, consider using more precise or conventional alternatives such as "a large number of" or "numerous".

Is there a difference between "a raft of" and "a series of"?

"A raft of" implies a large quantity or variety, while "a series of" suggests a sequence or connected set. You would use "a raft of" when you want to emphasize the abundance, and "a series of" when you want to highlight the order or connection between items.