astronomical sums

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "astronomical sums" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe extremely large amounts of money or figures, often in a context related to finance or costs. Example: "The project was estimated to cost astronomical sums, far exceeding the initial budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

The successful ones make astronomical sums, but for how long?

The New York Times

But despite charging these astronomical sums, Blumenthal insists the restaurant is not significantly profitable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It's been reported that I've signed for ITV, signed for the BBC and in both cases for astronomical sums.

Independent

The local architect Eulho Suh compares it to American movie stars quietly shooting dopey commercials in Asia for astronomical sums.

The New York Times

Such astronomical sums are a sign that investors think the best social networks will become big money-spinners.

The Economist

Arsenal fans are at a loss to why they spent such astronomical sums on such a player.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

£2.825bn is an astronomical sum.

The Guardian

"If I could make them $100 million, they would pay me an astronomical sum.

The New York Times

Rich American wives bought Betty Crocker birthday cakes pre-made and decorated for the astronomical sum of thirty euros.

The New Yorker

Barry Franks once admitted to me that the unpaid tab came to six thousand pounds, an astronomical sum at the time.

The New Yorker

Kerviel insisted that they couldn't be more than twenty-five or thirty billion euros — still an astronomical sum.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "astronomical sums" when you want to emphasize the extremely large and often surprising nature of the amount involved, particularly in financial contexts. For broader contexts, consider alternatives like "huge quantities" or "massive amounts".

Common error

Avoid using "astronomical sums" when describing large quantities of non-monetary items. It's more appropriate for discussing money, costs, or financial figures. Instead, use phrases like "vast quantities" or "huge amounts" for general contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "astronomical sums" primarily functions as a quantifier, specifically indicating an exceptionally large amount, particularly of money. It is an adjective-noun construction where 'astronomical' modifies 'sums' to intensify their magnitude. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

4%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "astronomical sums" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe exceptionally large amounts, particularly of money. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to quantify and emphasize magnitude, often conveying surprise or disbelief. It's predominantly found in news and media contexts, with a neutral to formal register. While "astronomical sums" is generally appropriate for financial discussions, alternatives like "massive amounts" or "huge quantities" may be more suitable for non-monetary contexts. Common errors include overuse in non-financial scenarios, where simpler alternatives would be clearer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

staggering amounts of money

More descriptive, adding "of money" for clarity, and emphasizing the surprising nature of the quantity.

massive amounts

Replaces "sums" with "amounts", emphasizing quantity rather than a calculated total.

enormous figures

Replaces "sums" with "figures", more suitable when referring to numerical data or statistics.

huge quantities

Substitutes both "astronomical" and "sums" to focus on the sheer volume or number of something.

vast fortunes

Emphasizes wealth and riches, changing the focus from general amounts to financial assets.

immense expenditures

Highlights the spending aspect, implying large-scale spending or investment.

exorbitant costs

Focuses on the high price or expense associated with something.

colossal investments

Implies significant capital allocation or funding.

tremendous outlays

Highlights the act of spending or disbursing large sums of money.

prohibitive costs

Highlights that the amount is so large it might prevent someone from doing something.

FAQs

How can I use "astronomical sums" in a sentence?

You can use "astronomical sums" to describe very large amounts of money, for example: "The project required "astronomical sums" of investment to be completed."

What are some alternatives to saying "astronomical sums"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "massive amounts", "huge quantities", or "enormous figures" instead of "astronomical sums".

Is it correct to use "astronomical sums" to describe quantities other than money?

While primarily used for financial contexts, "astronomical" can be used metaphorically for other quantities, but it's generally clearer to use alternatives like "vast" or "immense" for non-monetary amounts.

What is the difference between "astronomical sums" and "exorbitant costs"?

"Astronomical sums" refers to the large amount itself, while "exorbitant costs" emphasizes that the costs are excessively high or unreasonable.