a vast multitude of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a vast multitude of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large number of people or things, often in a formal or literary context. Example: "The festival attracted a vast multitude of attendees from all over the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

There is a vast multitude of "lost" Russian classics.

The Guardian

Fungi, plants, and animals contribute a vast multitude of small parts to the microfossil record.

University of California, Berkeley

This is precisely the question I am trying to answer this summer, and, it turns out, soils are made up of a vast multitude of organisms.

Harvard University

"In order to survive in a vast multitude of different races and cultures, we had to formulate certain rules," he said.

The New York Times

In ad 64 a fire destroyed much of Rome; the emperor Nero, in order to escape blame, killed a "vast multitude" of Christians as scapegoats.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As to the difficulty that into the one primary motion is crowded a vast multitude of stars, while of the other stars each has been separately given special movements of its own, there is in the first place this reason for regarding the arrangement as a natural one.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

APART, perhaps, from tablets of stone dictated by the Almighty on a mountain top, no better way has yet been found to convey a simple message to a vast multitude than broadcast television.

The Economist

I think Rush and the boys have it right on this one: The free market offers plenty of room for liberals to have their say, even in an era when the vast multitude of radio stations are owned by a few conglomerates.

Los Angeles Times

In the Cambridge Conferences Lectures of 1898 Peirce defines a continuum as a "collection of so vast a multitude" that its elements "become welded into one another". He links the transinfinity (the "vast multitude") of a continuum to the confusion of its elements by a line of mathematical reasoning closely related to Cantor's Theorem.

Johns Hopkins University

These serve as sorts under which we rank all the vast multitude of particular existences.

SEP

In the afternoon President Brigham Young came upon the stand and addressed the vast multitude of anxious listeners as follows: "For the first time the Twelve walk up to stand in their place, we have walked by sight and not by faith.

University of Chicago

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a vast multitude of" to emphasize the sheer number or quantity, particularly when aiming for a formal or slightly elevated tone. It adds a sense of scale and impressiveness to your description.

Common error

Avoid using "a vast multitude of" in casual or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "a lot of" or "many" are usually more appropriate in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a vast multitude of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a very large quantity or number. It is used to emphasize the scale or impressiveness of the noun it modifies, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Academia

28%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"A vast multitude of" is a determiner phrase used to describe a very large quantity or number of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for formal writing while advising against overuse in informal contexts. It functions to emphasize magnitude and create a sense of impressiveness. While versatile, simpler alternatives exist for casual contexts. Predominantly used in news, academic, and scientific domains, it holds a degree of formality suitable for those registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a great number of

Replaces "vast multitude" with more common synonyms while retaining the sense of a large quantity.

a large quantity of

Focuses on the quantity aspect, using more common terms than "multitude."

a huge amount of

Emphasizes the size of the quantity, replacing "vast multitude" with simpler terms.

a plethora of

Uses a more sophisticated synonym for "many" while keeping the overall meaning.

a great deal of

Indicates a large amount but is less formal than "a vast multitude of."

a large body of

Suggests a substantial collection, often used for abstract nouns like "evidence" or "information."

countless numbers of

Emphasizes the inability to count the number, providing a sense of immensity.

myriad instances of

Highlights the variety and numerous occurrences of something.

innumerable cases of

Similar to "countless numbers of" but specific to instances or cases.

a sea of

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate a very large number or quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "a vast multitude of" in a sentence?

Use "a vast multitude of" to describe a very large number or quantity of something. For example, "A vast multitude of stars filled the night sky."

What are some alternatives to "a vast multitude of"?

Alternatives include "a great number of", "a large quantity of", or "a huge amount of" depending on the context.

Is "a vast multitude of" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "a vast multitude of" is suitable for formal writing and can add emphasis to the large quantity or number being described.

What's the difference between "a vast multitude of" and "many"?

"A vast multitude of" is more emphatic and formal than "many". It suggests a scale or impressiveness that "many" might not convey. Consider the impact you want to create when choosing between the two.