amount of books

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amount of books" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct term is "number of books," as "amount" is used for uncountable nouns while "number" is used for countable nouns like "books." Example: "The library has a large number of books available for borrowing."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Booths have an unimaginable amount of books in it.

The Guardian

"It was an amount of books you wouldn't necessarily want to live with," he said.

The New Yorker

Just as well, considering the amount of books he churns out.

The Guardian - Books

This makes the ones that survive -- Murder One, Any Amount of Books, Henry Pordes -- all the more cherishable.

The New York Times - Magazine

Some of the limitations of the great brick-and-mortar bookstore is that they only have space to display X amount of books.

The New York Times - Books

I've read out of curiosity a fair amount of books about fashion and they're all about rising hemlines and dropping names.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

They also helped to offset the enormous amount of book borrowing from libraries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is a common misconception that the amount of dialogue in a show reflects the amount of "book".

The New York Times

AMOUNT OF BOOK DISCUSSION: There are some discussion questions set in advance, but they wrap up fairly quickly.

The New Yorker

So, for you slackers out there, it is indeed possible to build a successful company and get the requisite amount of book learnin'.

TechCrunch

For example, selling an ebook created and distributed via the Moglue platform in the App Store costs US$199 for one title or US$999 for an unlimited amount of book apps for one year.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to books, use "number of books" instead of "amount of books" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "amount" with countable nouns like "books". "Amount" is for uncountable quantities (e.g., "amount of water"). Always use "number" for countable items: "the number of books".

Linguistic Context

The phrase is generally intended to quantify or specify the extent of books present in a given context. Though commonly used, Ludwig AI marks it as incorrect in standard written English, as "amount" typically applies to uncountable nouns.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "amount of books" is a commonly used expression to describe the quantity of books. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, it's technically incorrect in standard written English. The correct alternative is "number of books", as "amount" is reserved for uncountable nouns. While "amount of books" appears across various sources, particularly in news and media, it's best to use "number of books" to ensure grammatical precision. Other alternatives include "quantity of books" or "total of books".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

number of books

Replaces "amount" (used for uncountable nouns) with "number" (used for countable nouns).

quantity of books

Substitutes "amount" with "quantity", which also refers to a countable number.

total of books

Replaces "amount" with "total", focusing on the aggregate sum.

volume of books

Uses "volume" to suggest a large quantity or collection of books.

pile of books

Replaces "amount" with a more descriptive term, useful when books are stacked together.

collection of books

Focuses on the books as a set or group.

selection of books

Highlights the variety or range of books available.

stock of books

Indicates a supply of books, often in a store or library.

supply of books

Indicates a readily available quantity of books.

accumulation of books

Highlights the gathering or increase in the number of books over time.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "amount of books"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. "Amount" should be used with uncountable nouns. The correct phrase is "number of books".

What's the difference between "amount of books" and "number of books"?

"Amount of books" is incorrect because "amount" is for uncountable nouns. The correct phrase is "number of books", as "number" is used for countable nouns like books.

What can I use instead of "amount of books"?

You can use "number of books", "quantity of books", or "total of books" depending on the context.

How do I correctly use "number of books" in a sentence?

Example: "The library has a large number of books available for borrowing." Ensure you use "number" when referring to countable items like books.