an increasing number of

USAGE SUMMARY

"an increasing number of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate a growing quantity. For example, "An increasing number of students are signing up for summer courses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So are an increasing number of foreigners.

The Economist

Apparently, an increasing number of people.

The New York Times

And an increasing number of developing countries are also participating.

The Guardian

Ivan was lucky; an increasing number of Russians are not.

The Guardian

That's happening to an increasing number of eurozone countries.

The Guardian

So, apparently, do an increasing number of Americans.

The New York Times

I, like many paediatricians, see an increasing number of refusals.

The Guardian

Yes, and an increasing number of students are doing so.

Princeton University

The company reported an increasing number of foreclosures.

The Washington Post

No wonder we have bred an increasing number of "sociopaths".

The New York Times

"And an increasing number of traders.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an increasing number of" to emphasize a growth trend in countable items, such as people, objects, or events. This phrase adds a sense of progression and escalation to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "an increasing number of" with uncountable nouns like 'water' or 'information'. Instead, use "an increasing amount of" for such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an increasing number of" functions as a determiner followed by a noun phrase. It quantifies a growing count of countable items, indicating a trend or progression over time. Ludwig's examples illustrate its application across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

34%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an increasing number of" is a versatile phrase used to describe a growth trend in countable items. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability across diverse contexts. As a determiner, it highlights progression and escalation and can be used in news articles, academic papers, and general communication. When employing this phrase, remember to use it with countable nouns and avoid using it with uncountable nouns. Alternatives such as ""a growing number of"" or ""more and more"" can be used depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a growing number of

Replaces "increasing" with "growing", a direct synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

a rising number of

Uses "rising" instead of "increasing", suggesting a similar upward trend.

more and more

Simplifies the phrase to a more common and less formal expression of increasing quantity.

a greater quantity of

Changes the structure to emphasize quantity rather than the number of individual items.

an expanding amount of

Substitutes "number" with "amount", implying a less precise but growing measure.

an escalating count of

Replaces "increasing" with "escalating" and "number" with "count", suggesting a rapid increase.

a surge in the number of

Uses "surge" to indicate a sudden and significant increase.

a proliferation of

Implies a rapid spread or multiplication, rather than a simple increase in number.

a marked increase in

Highlights that the increase is significant or noticeable.

an upward trend in

Focuses on the trend of increase rather than the specific number.

FAQs

How do I use "an increasing number of" in a sentence?

Use "an increasing number of" to describe a situation where the quantity of something countable is growing. For example, "An increasing number of students are applying to online courses."

What are some alternatives to "an increasing number of"?

Alternatives include "a growing number of", "more and more", or "a rising number of", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "an increasing amount of" instead of "an increasing number of"?

It depends on what you're describing. Use "an increasing number of" with countable nouns (e.g., people, cars). Use "an increasing amount of" with uncountable nouns (e.g., water, data).

What is the difference between "an increasing number of" and "a large number of"?

"An increasing number of" implies a trend or change over time, suggesting growth. "A large number of" simply indicates a significant quantity at a specific point in time without implying a change.