a sheer volume

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sheer volume" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large quantity or amount of something, often emphasizing its size or extent. Example: "The sheer volume of applications we received this year exceeded all expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But there was a sheer volume of choice.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

A: Just the sheer volume of data was probably the biggest challenge.

TechCrunch

The slow pace of the shift is, in part, a consequence of sheer volume -- there are more than 140,000 special education students in New York City, a number that is larger than the entire student population of many school systems elsewhere.

The New York Times

While the U.S. still tops the report's ranking as a source of sheer volume of fraudulent clicks, followed by Canada and the U.K., Vietnam shows an unprecedented ratio of criminal to innocent clicks.

Forbes

As a result, healthcare industry is witnessing an increase in sheer volume of data in terms of complexity, diversity and timeliness [56 58].

Journal of Big Data

But, he conceded in an interview, the sheer volume of amateur opinion is useful.

The New York Times - Food

Everything is frosted with the electronic sheen produced by "dynamic range compression," which pushes even the quiet sounds right into your face and gives the song an energy and sheer volume that make it stand out in the loud public places where the music is often played.

The New Yorker

For a small country with a small language, the sheer volume of Hungarian press offerings can make one's head spin.

The New York Times

It's a laid back beautiful game that at times feels much more like a movie than a game, and yet the sheer volume of the game is most certainly a vast undertaking.

TechCrunch

Lead Animator Zach Volker talks about the use of volumetric lighting and self-casting shadows: "specular mapping on particle effects, environmental tessellation and a drastic increase in the sheer volume of objects create a near-photorealistic world," he says.

The Guardian - Tech

It relied, to a large extent, on sheer volume.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sheer volume" when you want to emphasize the large quantity of something, especially when that quantity is noteworthy or presents a challenge.

Common error

Avoid using "a sheer volume" when a simpler term like "a lot" or "many" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sheer volume" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject complement in a sentence. It denotes a significant or overwhelming quantity of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sheer volume" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase that effectively conveys the idea of a substantial or overwhelming quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, especially in news, science, and business writing. To maintain clarity and avoid wordiness, it's essential to use this phrase judiciously, opting for simpler alternatives when appropriate. Remember to consider synonyms like "a large quantity" or "a substantial quantity" to refine your writing and match the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large quantity

A more general term indicating a sizable amount.

a substantial quantity

Emphasizes the considerable amount present.

a significant amount

Highlights the importance and size of the quantity.

a considerable quantity

Similar to substantial, indicating a noteworthy amount.

a massive quantity

Stresses the very large scale of the amount.

a vast amount

Highlights the immensity of the amount.

a tremendous quantity

Implies an impressively large amount.

an enormous amount

Emphasizes the great size of the amount.

a prodigious amount

Suggests an impressively great quantity.

a colossal amount

Indicates an extraordinarily large quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "a sheer volume" in a sentence?

You can use "a sheer volume" to describe a large quantity or amount of something, often emphasizing its size or extent. For example, "The company was overwhelmed by "a sheer volume" of customer inquiries after the product launch".

What can I say instead of "a sheer volume"?

You can use alternatives like "a large quantity", "a significant amount", or "a substantial quantity" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "sheer volume" or "large volume"?

"Sheer volume" emphasizes the magnitude or overwhelming nature of the quantity, while "large volume" simply indicates a considerable amount. The choice depends on the intended emphasis.

What does "sheer" mean in the context of "a sheer volume"?

In this context, "sheer" intensifies the meaning of "volume", emphasizing that the quantity is not just large, but strikingly or overwhelmingly so.