an extra number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an extra number of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an additional quantity or amount of something beyond what is usual or expected. Example: "We received an extra number of applications this year compared to last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

We had an extra number of delivery orders — pickups.

The New York Times

I would like to think that we don't draw an extra number of them, but you never know".

The Guardian - Music

"Transmitting an Italian text with a Morse code optimized for English will result in the need of transmitting an extra number of bits," they wrote.

The New York Times - Science

With most offerings, the underwriters allow for a 15% "Green Shoe" or an extra number of shares to be sold.

Forbes

Note than in the case of a symmetric implementation of the proposed system, an extra number of Nfreqs neighbor channels should be transmitted.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The next step is to estimate the noise variance, which requires an SVD decomposition and therefore an extra number of calculations given by 4 3 K 3 + 3 2 K 2 + 19 6 K − 6.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The extra contribution by folks in their 60s forced to work an indeterminate extra number of years, far from going to pay for their retirement, actually goes to pay for someone else's forced unemployment.

The Guardian - Opinion

As campaign co-founder and Labour MP Tom Harris argues: "No candidate wants to be forced to wait an extra excruciating number of hours before finding out his fate.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, directly using the standard FDTD method in the quasi-static frequency band requires an extra-large number of iterations.

Journal of Computational Physics

But Line2 is really catering to users who just need one extra number, not a slew of them.

TechCrunch

This version of the album included an extra track number 25, a new version of "'β' 1", which extended the length of the album to 52 52.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an extra number of", ensure the noun it modifies is countable. For example, "an extra number of books" is correct, but "an extra number of water" is not. Use "an extra amount of water" instead.

Common error

Avoid using "an extra number of" with uncountable nouns. Phrases like "an extra amount of", "more", or "additional" are more appropriate for non-countable items.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an extra number of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying a countable noun. It indicates a surplus or additional quantity beyond the expected or usual amount. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an extra number of" is a grammatically sound and common phrase used to denote an additional quantity of countable items. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for various contexts, though it should be used carefully with countable nouns. Predominantly featured in Science and News & Media, this phrase provides a clear and quantifiable indication of a surplus, which is why it is crucial to understand how it should be used in writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an additional quantity of

This phrase emphasizes the supplementary nature of the amount, adding to what already exists.

an increased quantity of

This indicates an amount that has grown or expanded over time or compared to a baseline.

a surplus of

This suggests an excess beyond what is needed, implying that there's more than sufficient.

a supplementary amount of

Highlights that the quantity is provided as something extra or additional to cover a need.

a greater amount of

This phrase conveys a larger quantity, often used for comparison to a previous or expected amount.

an excess of

Similar to 'a surplus of', it implies that the quantity is more than what is necessary or desirable.

a larger volume of

Emphasizes the magnitude or capacity of the additional amount, particularly for measurable substances.

an overabundance of

Suggests a plentiful and often excessive supply, potentially beyond what can be reasonably used.

a profusion of

Indicates a rich and extravagant supply, often used to describe natural resources or creative output.

an added increment of

This implies a gradual increase or addition in small steps.

FAQs

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

Use "an extra number of" to indicate an additional quantity of countable items. For example, "We ordered "an extra number of chairs" for the event".

What's a good alternative to "an extra number of"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "a surplus of", "an additional quantity of", or "a greater amount of".

Is it correct to say "an extra number of information"?

No, it is not correct. "Information" is an uncountable noun. You should say "an extra amount of information" instead.

When should I use "an additional number of" instead of "an extra number of"?

The phrases are often interchangeable, but "additional" may sound slightly more formal. Consider your audience and the context when choosing between "an additional number of" and "an extra number of".