a wide number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a wide number" is correct and commonly used in written English.
You can use it when referring to an amount of something that is difficult to measure or estimate. For example, "We have seen a wide number of applications for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

C. Nielsen does a separate survey of consumer behavior in a wide number of households.

The New York Times

"Our digital life is fragmented into a wide number of services," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

"The disadvantage is that they don't cover a wide number of indicators," says Prasad.

The Guardian

This latest legislation would pose a difficulty for a wide number of authors, directors and performers.

The Guardian

It is large, with articles on a wide number of issues, including, as an example, emergency contraception.

The New York Times - Travel

I worked part time, supply teaching in a wide number of settings including my son's state primary school.

The Guardian

They need to be offered cheap, and in instalments, so that a wide number of the general public participates.

The Guardian - Opinion

The agency's conclusion was based on evidence from a wide number of studies of both humans and animals.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He's an adept self-taught musician who makes eclectic pop that crosses a wide number of genres.

The New Yorker

The new technology allows scientists to develop machine translation systems for a wide number of obscure languages at a pace that experts once thought impossible.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

A wide number of papers in this field have been published in recent years (Khalid et al. 2011).

AMB Express

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a wide number" to indicate a quantity that is not precisely known or easily calculated. For clarity, follow with 'of' and a specific noun.

Common error

Avoid using "in" instead of "of" after "a wide number". The correct form is "a wide number of [something]"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wide number" functions as a determiner modifying a noun, indicating a large and unspecified quantity. It suggests a count that is significant but not precisely defined, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

42%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a wide number" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote a large, unspecified quantity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's appropriate for various contexts, especially in news and scientific writing. When using this phrase, ensure you follow it with "of" and a specific noun to maintain clarity and accuracy. While it's a versatile expression, consider related phrases like ""a large quantity"" or ""numerous instances"" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large quantity

Focuses on the amount rather than the count.

a significant amount

Emphasizes the importance or impact of the quantity.

a considerable quantity

Highlights the substantial nature of the amount.

a substantial portion

Highlights the relative size of the amount compared to the whole.

numerous instances

Replaces "number" with "instances" to emphasize occurrences.

many occurrences

Similar to "numerous instances", focusing on events or cases.

a multitude of

Implies a very large, often uncountable, number.

various instances

Focuses on the variety or diversity of the things being counted.

a great deal of

Indicates a large quantity, often used with uncountable nouns.

plenty of

Suggests an abundance or more than enough.

FAQs

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

Use "a wide number" to describe a quantity that is large and not precisely known. For example, "A wide number of options are available to you."

What phrases are similar to "a wide number"?

Similar phrases include "a large quantity", "a significant amount", or "numerous instances", depending on the specific context.

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

While both can indicate a large quantity, "a wide number" often suggests a more varied or diverse set. "Many" is simpler and more direct, suitable for general cases.

Can "a wide number" be used with both countable and uncountable nouns?

"A wide number" is typically used with countable nouns, whereas phrases like "a great deal of" are more suitable for uncountable nouns.