an acceptable number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an acceptable number of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a quantity or amount that is deemed satisfactory or appropriate in a given context. Example: "The committee decided that an acceptable number of participants for the study would be at least 100."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

And what is an acceptable number of beneficiaries?

MIT Technology Review

Some have specified an acceptable number of authors per manuscript.

Social Science & Medicine

Perhaps 15 hospitalisations is an acceptable number of injuries among 300 scared passengers hurrying off a plane.

The Economist

Calculations of an acceptable number of carbohydrates depend on factors like total caloric intake, weight and height, amount of exercise and whether a person is trying to maintain weight or lose it.

The New York Times - Health

Our numerical tests indicate that this formulation is prerequisite in order to arrive at a forward solution within an acceptable number of iterations, and hence it is also of significant importance in the optimization process of the inverse problem.

Journal of Computational Physics

We concluded, among other things, that it is sufficient to account for the average bond strength value with an acceptable number of samples to describe dry network strength, as long as the bond strength distribution remains symmetric.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

"That's not an acceptable number – 7% of directors.

The Guardian - Film

It is shown that an industrially acceptable number of CFD-simulations is sufficient to obtain blade designs with significantly higher performances than the baseline and SBO results issued from a standard Latin-Hypercube-Sampling initialization.

Aerospace Science and Technology

Using bootstrapped datasets (n = 10,000), a threshold of 6 was established for a maximum acceptable number of missing loci.

Nature

This was intended to be a question about the acceptable number of items, but participants usually gave their response in terms of the number of pages or amount of text to read.

BMC Cancer

For instance, a user-imposed limit on the acceptable number of pulse segments in a filter construction impose additional constraints due to Walsh-function symmetry, spectral properties, and the level of recursiveness of the Walsh functions (measured by the Hamming weight of the Walsh Paley-ordered index).

EPJ Quantum Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an acceptable number of", clearly define the criteria for what makes a number 'acceptable' within your specific context. This avoids ambiguity and ensures your audience understands your standards.

Common error

Avoid using "an acceptable number of" without providing any specific benchmarks or context. Vague statements like "we need an acceptable number of participants" lack actionable information. Instead, specify, 'We need an acceptable number of participants, aiming for at least 100, to ensure statistical significance'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an acceptable number of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically modifying a noun to indicate a quantity that meets certain criteria or standards. It is generally used to express satisfaction with a specific amount, as shown in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an acceptable number of" is a versatile phrase used to express that a quantity or amount meets certain standards or requirements. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you provide clear criteria for what constitutes 'acceptable' to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "a sufficient number of" or "an adequate quantity of" can offer similar meanings in various contexts. Being specific is always preferred, depending on your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a satisfactory quantity of

Replaces "acceptable" with "satisfactory", focusing on meeting a requirement.

a reasonable amount of

Substitutes "acceptable" with "reasonable", suggesting fairness and moderation.

a sufficient number of

Uses "sufficient" instead of "acceptable", emphasizing adequacy for a specific purpose.

a suitable quantity of

Highlights the appropriateness of the amount for a certain purpose.

an adequate quantity of

Replaces "acceptable" with "adequate", indicating just enough to meet a need.

a fair amount of

Highlights the impartiality and reasonableness regarding quantity.

a tolerable level of

Focuses on what can be endured or permitted, rather than what is ideal.

a manageable quantity of

Suggests the amount is within the capacity to handle or control.

a permissible degree of

Emphasizes that something is allowed or not forbidden, altering the tone slightly.

an allowable margin of

Emphasizes the range within limits can be accepted, altering the focus from a specific number.

FAQs

How can I use "an acceptable number of" in a sentence?

Use "an acceptable number of" to indicate a quantity or amount that is considered satisfactory or appropriate for a particular purpose. For example, "The study requires "an acceptable number of" participants to produce reliable results."

What's a more formal way to say "an acceptable number of"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "a sufficient number of", "an adequate quantity of", or "a satisfactory amount of" to maintain a professional tone.

Is it better to be specific instead of saying "an acceptable number of"?

While "an acceptable number of" is grammatically correct, being specific about the quantity is generally preferred for clarity. Instead of saying "an acceptable number of errors", specify "fewer than five errors" or "a maximum of three errors".

What determines what "an acceptable number of" is?

What constitutes "an acceptable number of" depends on the context. Factors like budget, resources, requirements, or specific goals influence the threshold. It's crucial to define parameters clearly based on the particular situation.