an untold number of

USAGE SUMMARY

"an untold number of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means an unspecified or unknown number of something. Example: There were an untold number of books in the old library, each holding secrets and stories waiting to be discovered.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An AWS outage in February took an untold number of startups with it.

TechCrunch

Servings of juice from concentrate are distributed in an untold number of plastic cups.

The Guardian

There were an untold number of other seniors involved in the pranks who were not caught.

The New York Times

Rami saved an untold number of Israelis by alerting the police.

The New York Times

— in the observable universe, each of them containing an untold number of suns.

The Washington Post

She also put an untold number of innocent people's lives in danger.

The New York Times

Rather, an untold number of tornadoes hit an untold number of homes and buildings in a chaotic flurry, touching down and picking up power at different places at different times.

The New York Times

Physical evidence to an untold number of crimes was available in court filings and county recording offices.

The Guardian - Money

If this is successful it would ultimately deny an untold number of Americans help under the ACA".

The Guardian

There are at least a hundred full-time professional string quartets in North America, plus an untold number of amateurs.

The New Yorker

The fire burned for under an hour before it was discovered, but an untold number of books were destroyed.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "an untold number of" with specific nouns that benefit from the ambiguity, such as "opportunities", "challenges", or "possibilities". This creates a more vivid and impactful image in the reader's mind.

Common error

Avoid using "an untold number of" repeatedly in formal or scientific writing where precision is valued. Opt for more specific estimations or ranges if possible to maintain credibility and accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an untold number of" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression suggests that it is not possible to count the number in question, which also aligns with many examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an untold number of" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that a quantity is unknown and difficult or impossible to count. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears most frequently in News & Media, followed by Academia. While grammatically sound, overuse in formal contexts should be avoided. Alternatives such as "countless instances of" or "a multitude of" can provide nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

countless instances of

Emphasizes the idea that the number is so high that is impossible or not worth counting.

innumerable cases of

Formal alternative that highlights the inability to enumerate or count the specific occurrences.

a multitude of

Indicates a large number of things or people, implying abundance.

a vast quantity of

Focuses on the great amount or volume of something, rather than the number of discrete items.

an unquantifiable amount of

Highlights the difficulty or impossibility of measuring the amount involved.

a plethora of

Suggests an overabundance or excessive amount of something.

numerous examples of

Directly states that there are many examples, without implying impossibility of counting.

a considerable quantity of

Indicates that the amount is significant or noteworthy.

an unspecified quantity of

Emphasizes the lack of specific details about the quantity, rather than its magnitude.

an uncounted number of

Highlights that no counting has been done, implying a lack of knowledge about the true amount.

FAQs

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

You can use "an untold number of" to describe a quantity that is not known and probably impossible to calculate, as in "an untold number of stars" or "an untold number of challenges".

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

Alternatives include "countless instances of", "innumerable cases of", or "a multitude of". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "an untold number of" or "a large number of"?

"An untold number of" emphasizes that the exact quantity is not known and likely impossible to determine. "A large number of" simply indicates that the quantity is significant. Choose "an untold number of" when you want to highlight the uncertainty.

What is the difference between "an untold number of" and "an infinite number of"?

"An untold number of" suggests a quantity that is unknown but still finite. "An infinite number of" refers to a quantity that is literally without end. Using "an infinite number of" implies that there is no limit.