amount of cartons

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amount of cartons" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct term should be "number of cartons" since "amount" is used for uncountable nouns, while "number" is used for countable nouns like cartons. Example: "The number of cartons needed for the shipment is ten."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The formidable task of transferring this amount of hard-copy to cartons for removal is a daunting task which can only be accomplished by those younger and stronger than I. Bless my friends, Irene and Cindy, for their caring and coming to my rescue!

Huffington Post

Earthquakes generated by fracking are typically no larger than magnitude 0. That's equivalent to the amount of energy released when a milk carton hits the floor after falling off a counter.

Stanford University

"It's not people who purchased a couple of cartons - they bought thousands of cartons," Mr. Proshansky said.

The New York Times

Unpack the contents of cartons that got wet.

Forbes

Restaurants use the term As Purchased (AP) to determine the purchase price of the amount of the item purchased, such as a carton of eggs or milk.

WikiHow

If the ice has melted noticeably, put the bottle back in a milk carton, add the needed amount of water, and refreeze it.

WikiHow

Those tiny packages of apple sauce and juice have a greater BPA-emitting surface area than a big carton or can for the amount of food.

Stanford University

Mr. Herbruck, from Saranac, Mich., designed his carton so that the number of "other" compartments match the number of egg holders, so the carton can carry the correct amount of ingredients for an omelet or any egg dish, or even Easter egg painting supplies.

The New York Times

Farfel is more expensive than an equivalent amount of matzo (particularly if you bought a multi-carton pack of matzo), and it is just broken up pieces of matzo.

Huffington Post

With the amount of highly enriched uranium that could fit into six milk cartons, a terrorist could improvise a nuclear device to level a medium-sized city.

The Economist

A store might claim that cartons arrived with less than the promised amount of, say, compact discs, rubber sandals, blenders, cashmere sweaters and the like.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to cartons, which are countable items, always use "number of" instead of "amount of". For example, use "the number of cartons" instead of "the amount of cartons".

Common error

Avoid using "amount" with countable nouns like "cartons". "Amount" is suitable for uncountable nouns (e.g., "amount of water"), while "number" is correct for countable nouns (e.g., "number of cartons").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "amount of cartons" functions as a prepositional phrase intended to quantify the number of carton containers. However, Ludwig AI highlights that it is grammatically incorrect due to the misuse of "amount" with a countable noun.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Wiki

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "amount of cartons" is grammatically incorrect, as Ludwig AI points out. "Amount" should be used with uncountable nouns, while "number" is appropriate for countable nouns like "cartons". Therefore, the correct phrase is "number of cartons". While the phrase might appear in various sources, including news and academic contexts, it's crucial to use the grammatically correct alternative, especially in formal writing. Alternatives such as "quantity of cartons" or "total cartons" can also be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

number of cartons

Replaces "amount" with "number", correcting the grammatical error as "cartons" is a countable noun.

quantity of cartons

Substitutes "amount" with "quantity", providing a more formal and grammatically correct alternative.

total cartons

Uses "total" as an adjective to describe the cartons, offering a concise and correct alternative.

carton count

Expresses the idea using "count" as a noun, making it a more succinct way to refer to the quantity of cartons.

number of boxes

Replaces "cartons" with "boxes", offering a synonym that maintains the meaning of containers.

volume of cartons

Emphasizes the collective size or space occupied by the cartons, rather than just the count.

stock of cartons

Suggests a supply or inventory of cartons, implying a stored quantity.

batch of cartons

Refers to a specific set or group of cartons, typically produced or handled together.

collection of cartons

Indicates a group of cartons gathered or assembled for a particular purpose.

supply of cartons

Highlights the availability of cartons, suggesting a resource or reserve.

FAQs

What's the correct way to refer to several cartons?

The grammatically correct way to refer to several cartons is to use "number of cartons" instead of the incorrect "amount of cartons". Remember, use "number" for countable items.

Is it ever correct to use "amount" when referring to containers?

Yes, but it depends on what you're measuring. For example, you can say "the amount of liquid in the carton" because liquid is uncountable. However, you would use "number" when referring to individual cartons.

What can I say instead of "amount of cartons"?

You can use alternatives like "number of cartons", "quantity of cartons", or "total cartons".

Which is correct, "amount of cartons" or "number of cartons"?

The correct phrase is "number of cartons". "Amount of cartons" is grammatically incorrect because "cartons" are countable nouns, requiring the use of "number".