count

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "count" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used as a verb, noun, or an adjective. For example: Please count the number of chairs in the room. (verb) I counted twenty-four chairs. (noun) This is my last count. (adjective).

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

El-Maarfi faces two counts of sexual assault and one count of exposure.

The Guardian

Does that count as progress?

The New York Times

YouTube, meanwhile, thinks that is only right to count channel video views for videos that are still actually present on the channels - which means that whenever YouTube got round to reviewing the music majors' channels on its site, a massive cut was always going to be in order.

The Guardian - Tech

He remains the leader of a party that can count on the support of 129 of the 951 members of the Italian parliament.

The Guardian - Opinion

You signed up for as much as you could at your "real" job and saved yourself thousands of pounds, and, yes, lunch-and-learns do count.

The Guardian

He denied Australia's harsh treatment of asylum seekers at detention camps on Nauru and Manus Island could count against the former prime minister.

The Guardian

The avowedly secular, pro-European community – at the last count 120,000-strong 120,000-strong blame, squarely, withashe neo-IslaidstheK party led blamerkey'squarelysingly authoritarian president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The Guardian

Anti-racist votes in the North West region for Labour, the Liberal Democrats or the Conservatives will certainly count.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The second half was fine, we looked like we were going to score and then we lose a goal and then the last 15 minutes, we didn't really count that.

The Guardian - Sport

Because the award is non-consolidated it will not count towards pension entitlements or shift pay and will be wiped away at the end of March 2016, meaning wages will go back to their April 2013 level.

The Guardian

Although the red arrival was meant to mark a watershed moment of diary-marking and tins stuffed with pads, my 28-day count soon fell by the wayside, as my periods became nothing more than an annual event.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "count" as a verb, ensure the subject-verb agreement is correct (e.g., "he counts", "they count").

Common error

Avoid using "count" when a more precise term like "evaluate" or "assess" is more appropriate. For example, instead of "We need to count the project's success", consider "We need to evaluate the project's success".

Linguistic Context

Count functions primarily as a verb and a noun. As a verb, it signifies the act of enumerating or calculating. As a noun, it refers to the process of counting or the result of a count. Ludwig indicates its frequent usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "count" is a versatile term serving as both a verb and a noun, frequently used to enumerate, calculate, or assess. According to Ludwig, its usage is grammatically correct and very common across various contexts, including News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. When choosing an alternative, "enumerate", "tally", and "calculate" are suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. It's essential to maintain subject-verb agreement when using "count" as a verb and to avoid its misuse in abstract contexts where more precise terms would be appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enumerate

Focuses on listing items individually.

tally

Suggests adding up items to find a total.

number

Emphasizes the numerical aspect.

calculate

Implies a more complex mathematical operation.

reckon

Can mean to calculate or to consider.

compute

Refers to performing calculations, often with a computer.

matter

When "count" means to be important, matter is a direct substitute.

assess

Focuses on evaluating or estimating something.

determine

Highlights the act of finding something out definitively.

consider

When "count" means to regard or think of, consider is similar.

FAQs

How to use "count" in a sentence?

You can use "count" as a verb meaning to enumerate (e.g., "Please count the votes") or as a noun referring to the act of counting (e.g., "The final count is in").

What can I say instead of "count"?

You can use alternatives like "enumerate", "tally", or "calculate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "count" or "enumerate"?

"Count" and "enumerate" are both correct, but "count" is more general, while "enumerate" implies listing items individually.

What's the difference between "count" and "consider"?

While "count" typically refers to enumeration or calculation, "consider" refers to regarding something in a particular way. For example, "I count myself lucky" versus "I consider myself lucky".