a serious amount

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a serious amount" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the significance or magnitude of a quantity, often in contexts discussing money, resources, or effort. Example: "The project required a serious amount of funding to get off the ground."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The price of photovoltaic energy is falling at 10% a year, and in Germany a serious amount of unsubsidised, solar electricity is already being added to the grid.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It took a serious amount of energy.

The Guardian - Travel

Everything's "breaking" and generating a "serious amount of hype".

The Guardian

The course moves rapidly and will require a serious amount of time and effort.

Princeton University

In this case, Bergkamp still had a serious amount to do even after the immaculate control.

The Guardian - Sport

That's a serious amount of money going into the local community.

The Guardian

For such a visceral experience, goals are subject to a serious amount of rationalising.

The Guardian - Sport

Fischman told me he lost "a serious amount of money" to Scarano-related delays.

The New York Times - Magazine

Shaping public opinion and the political process is a large, global business and involves a serious amount of money.

The Guardian - Opinion

That is a serious amount of bread to go at, which may explain why it has never caught on here.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If you have a serious amount of money, then the board expects you to contribute to your defence.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a serious amount" to emphasize the significance of a quantity, especially when discussing resources, efforts, or abstract concepts like time and energy.

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid overuse of "a serious amount" in highly formal writing where more precise or sophisticated language might be preferred. Consider alternatives like "a substantial quantity" or "a considerable volume".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a serious amount" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a significant quantity or degree. Ludwig provides numerous examples across diverse contexts, demonstrating its wide applicability in describing substantial quantities of various things from money to time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a serious amount" is a versatile phrase used to denote a significant quantity or degree, as supported by Ludwig AI's analysis. It functions as a determiner phrase, adding emphasis to the quantity being described. While generally neutral in register, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives in certain contexts. Ludwig's examples highlight its prevalence in news, media, and academic writing, making it a common and acceptable choice for expressing substantial quantities across various subjects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a great deal

A more informal way to express "a serious amount", focusing on quantity.

a considerable quantity

Replaces "amount" with "quantity", emphasizing the measurable aspect.

a fair quantity

Similar to "a great deal", less intense and more neutral.

a significant portion

Highlights the proportional size rather than just the raw quantity.

a substantial volume

Implies a large bulk or mass, suitable for physical quantities.

a hefty sum

Particularly useful when referring to money or other valuable resources.

a large measure

Uses "measure" to indicate a significant extent or degree.

a notable extent

Focuses on the degree or scope to which something exists or is done.

an appreciable quantity

Emphasizes that the amount is easily noticed or worth considering.

a goodly number

An archaic expression meaning quite a lot, more formal and less common.

FAQs

How can I use "a serious amount" in a sentence?

You can use "a serious amount" to describe a large quantity or degree of something, such as "The project required "a serious amount" of funding" or "She dedicated "a serious amount" of time to the research".

What are some alternatives to "a serious amount"?

Alternatives include "a considerable quantity", "a significant portion", "a great deal", or "a substantial volume", depending on the specific context.

Is "a serious amount" appropriate for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "a serious amount" might be too informal for some formal contexts. Consider more precise or sophisticated alternatives like "a substantial quantity" or "a considerable degree".

What's the difference between "a serious amount" and "a large amount"?

"A serious amount" emphasizes the significance or impact of the quantity, whereas "a large amount" simply denotes size. "A serious amount" suggests that the quantity is noteworthy or consequential.