a vast number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a vast number' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a large quantity of something, such as: "A vast number of people attended the rally."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As a consequence, a vast number of publications have been made in the open literature.

Progress in Nuclear Energy

"They represent a vast number of users of Kerberos.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A vast number of people depend on film and TV.

The Guardian - Film

Dawn Ades analyses a vast number of individual paintings.

The Guardian - Books

"Pickle," beloved by a vast number of family and friends.

The New York Times

There are a vast number of less populous groups.

Britannica

That's a vast number of children we're still letting down.

The Guardian - Opinion

Simple fixed-point iterations call for a vast number of cycles.

Journal of Computational Physics

Viruses are intracellular pathogens responsible for a vast number of human diseases.

Stanford University

That logic would invalidate a vast number of the procedures employed by the administrative state.

Cornell University

A vast number of documents were also introduced, and bear on the question for decision.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a vast number" when you want to emphasize the sheer size or quantity of something, suggesting it's impressively large.

Common error

While "a vast number" is generally acceptable, consider more precise or formal alternatives like "a significant quantity" or "a considerable amount" in academic or business writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a vast number" functions as a determiner, specifically a quantity determiner. It modifies a noun, indicating a large and often impressively large quantity. Ludwig confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples of its use in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

51%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a vast number" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote a large quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides many examples across diverse fields such as news, science, and academia. Although universally applicable, it's advisable to opt for more formal alternatives like "a significant quantity" in professional writing. The phrase serves to emphasize the magnitude or frequency of something, highlighting its extensive scale. While its usage is diverse, news and scientific domains exhibit higher occurrence rates.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large quantity

Focuses on the amount rather than the count.

a great deal

Emphasizes the extent or degree.

a significant amount

Highlights the importance of the quantity.

a considerable quantity

Stresses that the amount is worthy of attention.

a huge quantity

Uses a more informal adjective.

a multitude

Implies a great number of things or people.

a plethora

Suggests an overabundance or excess.

countless numbers

Emphasizes the impossibility of counting.

innumerable instances

Focuses on the frequency of occurrences.

a sea of

Uses a metaphor to describe the large quantity.

FAQs

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

You can use "a vast number" to describe a large quantity of something. For example, "A vast number of studies have been carried out on this topic".

What are some alternatives to "a vast number"?

Alternatives include "a large quantity", "a great deal", or "a significant amount", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a vast number" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, consider more formal alternatives like "a significant quantity" or "a considerable amount" in academic or business contexts.

What's the difference between "a vast number" and "a large number"?

"A vast number" implies a quantity that is impressively or strikingly large, whereas "a large number" simply indicates a quantity greater than average, without necessarily emphasizing its impressiveness.