amount of documents

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amount of documents" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct term is "number of documents," as "amount" is used for uncountable nouns, while "number" is used for countable nouns like documents. Example: "The number of documents submitted for review was higher than expected."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

The inventory shows that it contains an enormous amount of documents about Hong Kong and Rhodesia.

The Guardian

They also took a computer and a large amount of documents and videos from the home, Mr. Taebi said.

The New York Times

"There's still a massive amount of documents on Aso Mining left in the basement of the Health Ministry," Mr. Fujita said.

The New York Times

Its investigation began in early March, and aides said the panel had identified and requested a "voluminous amount of documents" related to C.I.A. detention and interrogation policies.

The New York Times

To do the latter exercise meant that the court itself had to trawl through a large amount of documents in the file.

The Guardian

Dr. Freeze also described Lenin as a dynamo of activity in the years after the October Revolution and added, "The massive amount of documents he wrote in that period do not suggest a man who was suffering from syphilis".

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

In addition, there is a small amount of papers documenting her post-war career including diaries from the 1930s, a few official nursing documents, and correspondence relating to her death and estate.

Columbia University

The result is a vast amount of documented experience and a well-developed body of theoretical analysis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But he added: "There is a considerable amount of document exploitation to be done that will continue to occur and leads that come out of the exploitation will be followed up".

The Guardian

The recent explosion in the popularity of competitive gaming lacks a sufficient amount of documented history for people to truly appreciate just how far professional video gaming has come.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Today digital libraries provide access to a vast, but largely unstructured, amount of document collections.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a countable noun like documents, use "number of" or "quantity of" instead of "amount of" for grammatical correctness. For example, "the number of documents" or "the quantity of documents" is better.

Common error

Avoid using "amount of" with countable nouns. "Amount" is appropriate for uncountable nouns (e.g., "amount of water"). For documents, which are countable, use "number of" or "quantity of" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "amount of documents" functions as a noun phrase aiming to specify the quantity of documents. Although common, Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically questionable, highlighting the importance of using "number" instead of "amount" with countable nouns.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

27%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While "amount of documents" is frequently used, it's grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI suggests opting for the grammatically correct alternative "number of documents" or "quantity of documents", particularly in formal writing. Although the phrase appears across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia, be aware of the distinction between countable and uncountable nouns to maintain accuracy. Remember that "amount" is better suited for uncountable nouns, while "number" is correct for countable items like documents. Using "number of documents" or "quantity of documents" improves clarity and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

number of documents

Replaces "amount" with "number", correcting the grammatical error as "number" is used with countable nouns.

quantity of documents

Substitutes "amount" with "quantity", providing a grammatically correct alternative that emphasizes the extent or measurement of documents.

volume of documents

Replaces "amount" with "volume", suggesting a large or substantial quantity of documents, often in a more formal context.

body of documents

Emphasizes a collection or group of documents, often implying a related or cohesive set.

collection of documents

Highlights the gathering or accumulation of documents, suitable for describing organized sets.

pile of documents

Suggests a disorganized heap of documents, indicating a large and potentially unmanaged quantity.

accumulation of documents

Focuses on the process of documents gathering over time, highlighting the gradual increase in quantity.

stockpile of documents

Implies a large reserve or store of documents, suggesting preparedness or anticipation of need.

large set of documents

Emphasizes the extent and completeness of the documents.

substantial record of documents

Refers to a significant compilation of documents.

FAQs

What is the correct way to refer to the number of documents?

The correct phrase is "number of documents" or "quantity of documents". The term "amount" is used for uncountable nouns.

Is it grammatically correct to say "amount of documents"?

No, it's not grammatically correct. You should use "number of documents" or "quantity of documents" instead, as "amount" is reserved for uncountable nouns.

What can I say instead of "amount of documents" to sound more professional?

Use "number of documents" or "quantity of documents". These alternatives are grammatically sound and suitable for formal contexts.

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

"Amount of documents" is grammatically incorrect because "amount" is for uncountable nouns. Use "number of documents", which is grammatically correct because "number" is for countable nouns like documents.