a staggering number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a staggering number" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the impressiveness or overwhelming nature of a quantity or statistic. Example: "The report revealed a staggering number of people affected by the recent natural disaster."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's a staggering number!

The New Yorker

It's a staggering number.

The New York Times

A staggering number.

The New York Times

"That is a staggering number," he said.

The New York Times

The answer is, a staggering number.

The Economist

A staggering number of casualties, the country is in shock.

The Guardian

Volkswagen faces a staggering number of investigations and lawsuits.

The New York Times

And Jones had made a staggering number of them.

The Washington Post

This is a staggering number that even eclipses U.S. military casualties in times of war.

Columbia University

That is a staggering number, both from a financial and environmental perspective.

The New Yorker

The American statistics are much lower, about twenty thousand, but it's still a staggering number.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a staggering number" when you want to emphasize the surprisingly large quantity or amount of something. It adds impact and draws attention to the magnitude of the figure.

Common error

While "a staggering number" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid overusing it in very informal settings or casual conversations. Simpler terms like "a lot" or "many" may be more appropriate and natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a staggering number" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase to emphasize the magnitude of a quantity. It acts as an intensifier, highlighting that the number is surprisingly large or impressive. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

18%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a staggering number" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to emphasize the unexpectedly large size of a quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability. It's most common in news and academic writing. When employing this phrase, consider the context to ensure it aligns with the overall tone and formality of your writing. For less formal situations, simpler alternatives may be more suitable. By understanding its function and appropriate usage, you can effectively use "a staggering number" to add emphasis and impact to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a huge quantity

Replaces "staggering" with "huge", focusing on the large scale.

a massive amount

Similar to 'huge quantity', but emphasizes the scale and impact of the amount.

an astonishing quantity

Replaces "number" with "quantity" and "staggering" with "astonishing", emphasizing surprise.

a remarkable figure

Substitutes "number" with "figure" and "staggering" with "remarkable", highlighting impressiveness.

a surprising amount

Uses "amount" instead of "number" and "surprising" in place of "staggering", suggesting unexpectedness.

an immense sum

Uses "sum" to refer to an amount, especially of money, and "immense" to convey the large size.

a considerable quantity

Emphasizes the significance of the quantity more directly than the original phrase.

an extraordinary count

Highlights the exceptional nature of the count or tally.

a tremendous volume

Employs "volume" to denote quantity, particularly appropriate for liquids or abstract concepts.

a substantial proportion

Indicates a significant fraction or percentage, rather than an absolute number.

FAQs

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

Use "a staggering number" to emphasize a surprisingly large quantity. For example, "A staggering number of people attended the concert."

What are some alternatives to "a staggering number"?

You can use alternatives like "an astonishing amount", "a remarkable figure", or "a huge quantity" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the staggering number is" or "a staggering number is"?

Both can be correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "The staggering number" implies you are referring to a specific, previously mentioned number. "A staggering number" refers to an unspecified but large quantity.

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

No, "a staggering number" is best used with countable nouns (e.g., people, cars, tickets). For uncountable nouns (e.g., data, information), it's more appropriate to use phrases like "a staggering amount of".