an unspecified large

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an unspecified large" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and lacks a noun to modify, making it difficult to understand the intended meaning. Example: "The project requires an unspecified large amount of resources to be successful."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A third involved the interception of an unspecified "large number" of phone records from the Washington DC 202 area code in 2008, when an NSA "programming error" improperly entered 202 instead of 20, the country code for Egypt.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Aqeel al-Turaihi, the inspector general for the Ministry of the Interior, reported that the ministry bought 800 of the devices from a company called ATSC (UK) Ltd. for $32 million in 2008, and an unspecified larger quantity for $53 million.

The New York Times

As initial start-up funding, the government is allocating ��50m with an unspecified larger amount to follow, but Mr Gove said there was no way of telling how this might translate into school numbers.

BBC

He persuades his driver, Eyup (Yavuz Bingol), to take the fall for him, which will involve serving a relatively short prison sentence in exchange for an unspecified but large sum of money.

The New York Times

Hopes were raised last week when an inspection team of 50 officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Federal Security Service arrived here for an unspecified but large-scale investigation.

The New York Times

It all concerns "Touch Disease," a problem an unspecified but apparently large number of users (i.e. at least several thousand and perhaps far more) have encountered in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

TechCrunch

However, the two ideas she has proposed repealing provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that benefit taxpayers with income in excess of $100,000 and an unspecified tax on large financial institutions would fall far short of that goal.

Forbes

The ultimatum demanded: #That Skučas and Povilaitis be put on trial for ordering the Soviet soldiers to be kidnapped; #That a government, more capable of adhering to the Mutual Assistance Pact, be formed; #That an unspecified, but "sufficiently large" number of Soviet troops be allowed to enter Lithuanian territory; #That an answer be given by 10 00 am the next morning.

Wikipedia

The ranger, identified only as "Mark", told the group their actions violated an unspecified county ordinance against larger groups dispensing food in the park.

Vice

Stomach with an unspecified anatomical site was the largest gastric cancer group (53%).

BMC Cancer

The police found a large amount of an unspecified drug in the apartment, an investigator said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you need to indicate an unspecified but significant quantity, ensure your phrasing includes a clear noun and uses more conventional structures, such as "a considerable amount" or "a significant quantity".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "an unspecified large" without a clarifying noun. This construction is grammatically weak and can confuse readers. Always specify what the "large" refers to, even if the exact quantity is unknown.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an unspecified large" functions as a descriptor, attempting to quantify something without providing exact details. However, the lack of a clear noun makes the phrase grammatically incorrect and unclear. Ludwig AI indicates this phrasing is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an unspecified large" is grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity due to the absence of a specific noun to modify. While it attempts to convey a sense of significant but undefined quantity, its usage is uncommon and not recommended in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. Instead, consider using more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "a considerable amount" or "a significant quantity" to ensure your writing is clear and effective. The phrase appears rarely in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources and, therefore, it's highly advisable to use other options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable amount

Emphasizes the substantial quantity without specifying the exact number.

a significant quantity

Highlights the importance of the amount, implying it is noteworthy.

an undefined large portion

More explicitly states that the size is both substantial and not precisely determined.

a substantial unspecified number

Reorders the words to improve readability and grammatical flow.

an unknown extensive quantity

Replaces 'large' with 'extensive' to emphasize the breadth and scope of the unknown amount.

a sizable unspecified sum

Uses 'sizable' for 'large', which provides a more polished and slightly more formal tone.

a generous, unspecified amount

Emphasizes the abundance implied by 'large' by using 'generous'.

a vast, undetermined quantity

Uses 'vast' to amplify the sense of scale, suggesting a very large and immeasurable amount.

a hefty unspecified sum

Replaces 'large' with 'hefty', giving a sense of weight and significance to the amount.

a sizeable but vague quantity

Uses 'vague' to describe the lack of details and 'sizeable' as a synonym for large.

FAQs

How can I correctly express the idea of a quantity that is both large and not precisely defined?

Instead of using the awkward phrase "an unspecified large", consider alternatives such as "a considerable amount", "a significant quantity", or "substantial unspecified number" for improved clarity.

Is "an unspecified large" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "an unspecified large" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It lacks a noun and sounds awkward. Prefer phrases like "considerable amount" or "significant quantity".

What are some alternatives to "an unspecified large" that sound more professional?

For a more professional tone, use phrases like "substantial amount", "considerable number", or "significant portion". These options offer better grammatical structure and greater clarity.

When is it appropriate to use a phrase indicating a large but undefined quantity?

Use phrases like "substantial amount" or "significant quantity" when the exact amount is not known or not relevant, but the size or scale is important to convey. Ensure that the noun being modified is clearly stated.