a significant number

USAGE SUMMARY

"a significant number" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a large quantity that is important or meaningful. For example: "A significant number of residents in this city are living in poverty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's a significant number.

The New York Times - Sports

But it is a significant number.

The Economist

But a significant number do.

The New York Times

A significant number are pregnant women.

The Guardian

A significant number of people react negatively.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It's a significant number," Abdullah told me.

The New Yorker

A significant number are recognized masterpieces.

The New York Times - Arts

And a significant number are buying.

The New York Times

"It's a significant number," Mussina said.

The New York Times - Sports

"And a significant number wanted to pay.

The Guardian

A significant number were affected by the IT problem.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a significant number", ensure the context clearly indicates what the number refers to. Avoid ambiguity by specifying units or providing context.

Common error

Avoid using "a significant number" when the actual number is small or the context doesn't warrant emphasizing its importance. Be sure that the quantity genuinely holds weight within the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant number" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun and indicating a quantity that is noteworthy. As Ludwig AI explains, it denotes that the quantity is large enough to matter or have an impact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant number" is a versatile phrase used to highlight a quantity that is important or impactful. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context supports the assertion of significance and avoid overstating the importance of smaller quantities. Alternatives such as "a substantial amount" or "a large proportion" may be more suitable depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial quantity

Replaces 'number' with 'quantity', emphasizing the amount rather than the count.

a considerable amount

Substitutes 'significant' with 'considerable', focusing on the importance and size.

a large proportion

Uses 'proportion' to highlight the part-to-whole relationship, rather than a specific count.

an appreciable quantity

Emphasizes that the amount is noticeable or measurable.

a noteworthy volume

Replaces 'number' with 'volume', appropriate when referring to abstract quantities.

a marked degree

Shifts the focus from the number to the extent or level.

a good many

An idiomatic alternative, less formal but conveying a similar meaning of 'many'.

a fair amount

Similar to 'a good many', indicating a reasonable quantity.

a sizable contingent

More suitable when referring to a group of people or things.

an important fraction

Uses 'fraction' to denote a meaningful part of a whole.

FAQs

How can I use "a significant number" in a sentence?

Use "a significant number" to indicate a quantity or amount that is large enough to be important or worth noting. For example, "A significant number of students attended the lecture".

What are some alternatives to saying "a significant number"?

Alternatives include "a substantial amount", "a considerable quantity", or "a large proportion", depending on the specific context and what you want to emphasize.

Is it better to use "a significant number" or "many"?

"A significant number" is more formal and emphasizes the importance or impact of the quantity, while "many" is more general and simply indicates a large quantity. The choice depends on the context and the desired emphasis.

Can "a significant number" be used for both countable and uncountable nouns?

While "number" typically refers to countable nouns, "a significant number" is often used more broadly to suggest a considerable amount or quantity, even with concepts that aren't strictly countable. However, using alternatives like "a significant amount" might be more precise in those cases.