countable

USAGE SUMMARY

'countable' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that can be counted or measured, such as a specific number of items or certain units of measurement. For example, "There are a countable number of days until the project is due."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Since every countable level is itself countable (after all, there are only countably many possible defining formulas), and there are ω1 countable levels, there must be only ω1 real numbers.

SEP

The statement 3′ of countable additivity, recall, is a conditional; its antecedent, "{Ai} is a countably infinite collection of (pairwise) disjoint sets," is never satisfied in such spaces.

SEP

If we are willing make the further assumption that it only takes one bijection to one such instance of the power set of ω to render the power set itself "absolutely" countable, then we can understand the Skolemite's strong claim about absolute countability.

SEP

If wars of intervention are to be a serious part of tomorrow's agenda, they will have to be based on a simple, straightforward and more or less universally accepted set of rules.The rules must be countable on the fingers of one hand, because any larger number will lead to complaints that one rule contradicts or qualifies another rule.

The Economist

They should stay home and count transactions that are countable rather than enter into endless discussions about transfer prices and overhead allocations.

The Economist

In Brussels "to assist" means to be present, not to help; "to control" means to check, rather than to exercise power; "adequate" means appropriate or suitable, rather than (barely) sufficient; and mass nouns are countable, such as advices, informations and aids.

The Economist

On the theory that if it's real it must be countable, he ranks what he calls the top 100 on the basis of scholarly citations, media mentions and web hits.Though some of his pundits (such as Henry Kissinger) have escaped from government, most are moonlighters from universities or think-tanks.

The Economist

Thus, all finite sets are countable.

SEP

We have seen that the countable infinite cardinal is second-order characterizable.

SEP

Indeed, any countable general model must be of this kind.

SEP

To say that something or other (e.g. blood) is red, does not directly involve its being countable as one, in the way that to say that something is a planet, or (equally) is round, plainly does.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the word "countable", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being counted. This helps avoid ambiguity and enhances clarity in writing.

Common error

Avoid using "countable" when referring to things that are inherently uncountable, such as abstract concepts like happiness or substances like water. Use "measurable" or "quantifiable" instead.

Linguistic Context

The word "countable" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that they can be counted, whether they are finite or countably infinite. Ludwig examples show its use in describing levels, rules, transactions, and models.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "countable" is a grammatically correct adjective indicating that something can be counted or enumerated. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English. It's very common, particularly in scientific contexts, and also appears in news and formal business domains. When using "countable", ensure the context clarifies what is being counted to avoid ambiguity. While synonyms like "measurable" and "quantifiable" exist, "countable" specifically emphasizes the ability to be enumerated, making it most suitable for discussions involving sets and quantities in mathematics, logic, and data analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

able to be counted

Emphasizes the capability of being counted, focusing on the action rather than the property.

numerically finite

Highlights that the quantity has a defined numerical limit.

denumerable set

Specifically refers to sets that can be put into one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers.

enumerable collection

Focuses on the action of enumerating a group of items.

quantifiable

Indicates that something can be assigned a numerical value or quantity.

subject to counting

Highlights the fact that something can undergo the action of counting.

measurable in discrete units

Emphasizes the use of discrete units for measuring.

able to be quantified

Refers to the possibility of expressing something numerically.

having a finite number

Highlights the property of having a limited and defined quantity.

finite in number

Focuses on the limited quantity available.

FAQs

How is "countable" used in mathematical contexts?

In mathematics, "countable" describes a set with elements that can be counted, including finite sets and infinite sets that can be put into a one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers. This is different from "uncountable" sets, like the real numbers, which are too 'large' to be counted in this way.

What's the difference between "countable" and "finite"?

"Finite" means having a specific, limited number of elements. "Countable" includes finite sets, but also encompasses infinite sets that can be listed or paired with natural numbers. So, all finite sets are "countable", but not all countable sets are finite.

Can I use "countable" to describe abstract concepts?

While technically you can list examples of abstract concepts, it's generally more appropriate to use terms like "measurable" or "quantifiable". "Countable" is better suited for concrete, distinct items. For example, say "measurable progress" rather than "countable progress".

What are some synonyms for "countable" in everyday language?

In less formal contexts, you might use phrases like "able to be counted", "quantifiable", or "able to be enumerated" as alternatives to "countable", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.