amount of items

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amount of items" is not correct in standard written English.
The term "amount" is typically used for uncountable nouns, while "items" is a countable noun, so "number of items" would be more appropriate. Example: "The number of items in the inventory has increased significantly this month."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Stanley's sells a huge amount of items, like toys, watches, lighter fluid, and food.

The New Yorker

For the others, meanwhile, conditional free shipping is a much safer middle ground, since it guarantees customers will order a minimum amount of items and thereby help the company recoup more of the shipping costs.

The New York Times - Tech

To prevent unnecessary clutter- and wasted time - limit the amount of items on your desk and utilise the often wasted space behind the door or on the wall above the desk.

Independent

A message posted on the Facebook page of the Isle of Canna Community Development Trust said: "The thieves would have had to fill carrier bags with the amount of items they took.

Independent

Should GNM request, the Client shall provide GNM with a monthly report containing a count and description (including the author name(s)) of the total amount of items from the Services published in the Client Services in accordance with this Agreement in the preceding month.

The Guardian

Straps are hidden throughout allowing it to hold a surprising amount of items even a drone.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The amount of item grouping within the factors was provided by orthogonal Varimax rotation.

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology

There was, however, a wide range in the amount of item non-response (Table 3).

BMC Medical Research Methodology

The national survey showed that the amount of item-missing was large for some items, but this is a natural reflexion of relevance across the patient population.

BMJ Quality and Safety

For each of the disability dimensions we may identify instruments that most comprehensively cover a dimension with the least amount of item redundancy.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Because of this, there is a certain amount of item redundancy across measures, making it uncertain exactly which issues and domains are relevant to people with schizophrenia.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a collection of individual, countable objects, use "number of items" or "quantity of items" for grammatical precision.

Common error

Avoid using "amount" with countable nouns like "items". "Amount" is best used for things that can't be counted individually, such as "amount of water" or "amount of effort".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "amount of items" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically used to describe or quantify a collection of individual objects. Despite its common usage, Ludwig AI indicates this is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

29%

Science

27%

News & Media

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "amount of items" is frequently used across various contexts, as demonstrated by Ludwig. However, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect because "amount" should be used with uncountable nouns. The correct alternatives are "number of items" or "quantity of items", with the latter being more formal. Despite the grammatical issue, its prevalence in news, science, and wiki sources suggests it's widely understood, though careful writers should opt for the grammatically correct alternatives, especially in formal or business settings. To improve clarity and precision, avoid using "amount of items" in formal writing and choose "number" or "quantity" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

number of items

Replaces "amount" (used for uncountable nouns) with "number" (used for countable nouns like "items"), correcting the grammatical error.

quantity of items

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

total number of items

Adds "total" for emphasis and clarifies that it's a count of individual items.

item count

A concise way to refer to the count of items, suitable for technical or inventory contexts.

inventory size

Focuses on the overall scale of the inventory, rather than a specific count.

stock level

Refers to the current level of goods available, implying a management or assessment context.

volume of items

Shifts the focus to the physical space or capacity that the items occupy, applicable if size is relevant.

collection size

Applicable when referring to a group of items gathered for a specific purpose.

aggregate of items

Suggests a sum or compilation of individual items, useful in a statistical or analytical context.

bulk of items

Implies a large or significant quantity, more focused on magnitude than exact count.

FAQs

Why is "amount of items" considered grammatically incorrect?

The term "amount" is typically used for uncountable nouns (e.g., "amount of water"), while "items" is a countable noun. Therefore, it's more appropriate to use "number of items" or "quantity of items".

What's a more formal alternative to "amount of items"?

A more formal alternative is "quantity of items". This option is suitable for business reports, academic papers, or any context where precision is valued.

Is it ever correct to use "amount" with things that can be counted?

While generally discouraged, "amount" can sometimes be used loosely to refer to a large quantity, even of countable items. However, it's best to use "number of items" for clarity.

What are some other phrases I can use instead of "amount of items" in a business context?

In a business context, consider using "inventory size", "stock level", or "total number of items" for clearer communication.