an overwhelming quantity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an overwhelming quantity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large amount of something that is difficult to manage or deal with. Example: "The team faced an overwhelming quantity of data that needed to be analyzed before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But the trade center was still just an abstraction, an overwhelming quantity of space.

The New York Times - Magazine

There's an overwhelming quantity of sales advice out there, and most of it is bad.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The staples (breakneck pace, frantic walk and talks, comfortably smug one-liners) are all there in an almost overwhelming quantity.

The Guardian - Film

Hard choices confront policymakers in the U.S. and abroad in a seemingly overwhelming quantity.

Huffington Post

It is not a controversial proposition at all that the overwhelming quantity of law making work in the federal system is done by the court of appeals..

Huffington Post

Heart failure (HF) disease is accompanied by the development of an imbalance between oxygen- and nitric oxide-derived free radical production and the ability of the protective shield represented by a series of antioxidant enzymes to scavenge and buffer the overwhelming quantity of radical species generated [ 1].

BioMed Research International

I agree with you that we are drowning in information and definitely need reliable ways of making sense out of the overwhelming quantity of that information.

The New York Times

A former official with News International who has knowledge of the investigation said that given the overwhelming quantity of evidence, the police had relied heavily on guidance from News Corporation.

The New York Times

Based on a similar show mounted in 1996 during a time when New Orleans had the infamous honor of being the murder capital of the United States, the exhibition's overwhelming quantity of gun-related art renders the issues of gun violence inescapable and unavoidable.

Vice

Based on a similar show mounted in 1996 during a time when New Orleans had the infamous honour of being the murder capital of the United States, the exhibition's overwhelming quantity of gun-related art renders the issues of gun violence inescapable and unavoidable.

Vice

But it appears that Mr. Draghi remains unwilling — at least for now — to violate the ultimate E.C.B. taboo and effectively print money by buying bonds in overwhelming quantities.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an overwhelming quantity" when you want to emphasize not only a large amount, but also the feeling of being burdened or challenged by that amount. For instance, "The project was delayed by an overwhelming quantity of paperwork".

Common error

Avoid using "an overwhelming quantity" when a simpler adjective like "large" or "abundant" would suffice. "Overwhelming" suggests a sense of being burdened, not just plentifulness. For example, instead of saying "an overwhelming quantity of flowers" (unless the flowers are somehow a problem), consider "an abundant quantity of flowers".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overwhelming quantity" functions as a noun phrase, where "overwhelming" modifies the noun "quantity". It is used to describe a situation where the amount of something is so large that it creates a sense of being burdened or difficult to manage, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an overwhelming quantity" describes a large amount that is difficult to handle or manage. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its use in contexts like news, science, and business. While alternatives such as ""an overwhelming number"" or ""an enormous quantity"" exist, it's crucial to reserve "overwhelming" for situations where the quantity genuinely creates a burden. Use the phrase judiciously to convey both the size and the potential challenge associated with that size.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an overwhelming number

Replaces "quantity" with "number", emphasizing a count of discrete items rather than a continuous amount.

an overwhelming amount

Substitutes "quantity" with "amount", typically used for uncountable nouns or abstract concepts.

an overwhelming volume

Replaces "quantity" with "volume", suggesting a large space occupied or a high level of output.

an enormous quantity

Replaces "overwhelming" with "enormous", changing the intensity of the abundance but keeping same meaning.

an overwhelming mass

Substitutes "quantity" with "mass", indicating a large, undifferentiated bulk.

an overwhelming supply

Substitutes "quantity" with "supply", focusing on the readily available amount of something.

an impressive quantity

Replaces "overwhelming" with "impressive", changing the connotation to emphasize the positive aspect of a large amount.

a substantial quantity

Replaces "overwhelming" with "substantial", suggesting a considerable but not necessarily unmanageable amount.

a considerable quantity

Replaces "overwhelming" with "considerable", similar to 'substantial' but perhaps implying more thought or impact.

an abundance of

Replaces the whole phrase with a more concise expression indicating a plentiful amount.

FAQs

How can I use "an overwhelming quantity" in a sentence?

You can use "an overwhelming quantity" to describe a large amount of something that is difficult to handle or manage due to its size. For example, "The library had an overwhelming quantity of books to catalog".

What's a good alternative to "an overwhelming quantity"?

Alternatives include "an overwhelming number", "an enormous quantity", or "an overwhelming amount", depending on the context and what you're referring to.

Is it always appropriate to use "an overwhelming quantity"?

No, it's not always appropriate. "Overwhelming" suggests a sense of being burdened or challenged by the large quantity. If the quantity is simply large without causing difficulty, consider using alternative phrases like "a large amount" or "a significant number".

What is the difference between "an overwhelming quantity" and "a large quantity"?

"An overwhelming quantity" implies that the large amount is causing stress, difficulty, or a sense of being unable to cope, while "a large quantity" simply indicates a substantial amount without necessarily implying negative consequences.