a serious amount of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a serious amount of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a large quantity or degree of something, often in a context where the amount is significant or noteworthy. Example: "The project required a serious amount of funding to get off the ground."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It took a serious amount of energy.

The Guardian - Travel

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

The Guardian

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

In other words, health workers will have a serious amount of catching up to do when the pay freeze ends.

The Guardian - Opinion

With his good looks, he was a sponsor's dream and soon accumulated a serious amount of cash - he draws no salary from Central Office.

The Guardian

This is a pair you would pay money to watch but, for now, Fowler has a serious amount of ground to make up.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the impact of a quantity, place "a serious amount of" before the noun it modifies to highlight its significance. For instance, "A serious amount of investment is needed" is more impactful than "Investment of a serious amount is needed."

Common error

While "a serious amount of" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in very informal settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "a lot of" or "plenty of" to maintain a conversational tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a serious amount of" functions primarily as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a significant quantity or degree. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a serious amount of" is a versatile phrase used to denote a significant quantity or degree. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts. As this analysis has shown, it is particularly prevalent in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific writing. While widely applicable, consider the context and tone to avoid overuse in very informal situations. When aiming for formality, alternatives such as "a substantial quantity of" or "a considerable degree of" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial quantity of

Replaces "amount" with "quantity" and "serious" with "substantial", suggesting a considerable quantity.

a large quantity of

A more straightforward and common way to express a big quantity.

a significant quantity of

Substitutes "serious" with "significant", indicating importance or consequence.

a considerable degree of

Emphasizes the degree rather than the quantity, suitable for abstract nouns.

a noteworthy quantity of

Highlights that the quantity is worthy of attention or notice.

a great deal of

Informal alternative, suitable for both countable and uncountable nouns.

an appreciable amount of

Suggests that the amount is large enough to be perceived or measured.

a high volume of

Implies a large quantity, often used in technical contexts.

a considerable portion of

Emphasizes the proportion or share that the amount represents.

a striking amount of

Draws attention to the surprising or remarkable nature of the amount.

FAQs

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

Use "a serious amount of" to emphasize a significant quantity or degree. For example, "The project requires "a serious amount of" planning" or "He dedicated "a serious amount of" time to the research".

What's a more formal alternative to "a serious amount of"?

For formal contexts, consider using phrases like "a substantial quantity of" or "a considerable degree of" to maintain a professional tone.

Is there a difference between "a serious amount of" and "a significant amount of"?

While similar, "a serious amount of" can imply a greater magnitude or consequence than "a significant amount of". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "A significant amount of" is less emphatic.

Can I use "a serious amount of" with both countable and uncountable nouns?

Yes, "a serious amount of" can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. For example, "a serious amount of money" (uncountable) or "a serious amount of problems" (countable).