crunch numbers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crunch numbers" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use the phrase to refer to calculations or analysis of data. For example: "The accountant spent the afternoon crunching numbers to prepare the budget report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"They could crunch numbers.

The New Yorker

Eurocrats draft papers, crunch numbers and muse about the future of Europe.

The Economist

This post will be updated as we crunch numbers throughout the night.

The New York Times

Put another way: Is there a Christian way to crunch numbers?

The New York Times

Sounds silly, maybe, but it's actually rather great, especially if you crunch numbers for a living.

The New York Times - Tech

But the guys in the business department, they know how to crunch numbers for a purpose".

The New York Times - Tech

("I don't get up in the morning and crunch numbers," she said).

The New York Times

Some utility consultants said that owners might want to crunch numbers before participating.

The New York Times

Maxymuk said Anderson's career should be admired not just by people who crunch numbers.

The New York Times

Politicians crunch numbers, estimating that the bigger the job, the bigger the rewards.

The New York Times - Arts

As a consequence, Mira will be ready to crunch numbers from the day it is fired up.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crunch numbers" when you want to convey the idea of performing detailed and often tedious numerical calculations, especially for analysis or decision-making. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "crunch numbers" when referring to simple arithmetic or estimations. The phrase implies a more in-depth analysis than basic calculations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crunch numbers" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the act of performing mathematical calculations, often in a detailed and analytical manner. It implies more than just simple arithmetic, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "crunch numbers" is a widely used and accepted idiom that means to perform detailed numerical calculations, often for analytical purposes. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and versatile, fitting into various contexts from news to business. While suitable for neutral and professional settings, more formal academic or scientific writing might benefit from more precise alternatives such as "perform statistical analysis". Remember, "crunch numbers" implies an in-depth analysis, not just basic arithmetic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

number-crunching

Nominal form which means the activity of calculating numbers.

run the numbers

An informal alternative that also implies a thorough calculation.

calculate figures

Similar meaning, but emphasizes the calculation aspect.

perform calculations

A more formal way to describe the act of calculating.

analyze data

Focuses on the broader analysis of data, not specifically numerical.

compute the values

Highlights the computation aspect and the derivation of specific values.

process statistics

Highlights the statistical nature of the data being analyzed.

evaluate statistics

Emphasizes the evaluation and interpretation of numerical data.

assess the data

Focuses on the assessment and review of the entire dataset.

work with numbers

Describes the general activity of dealing with numerical information.

FAQs

How can I use "crunch numbers" in a sentence?

You can say, "The analyst had to "crunch numbers" to forecast the company's revenue for the next quarter".

What does it mean to "crunch numbers"?

To "crunch numbers" means to perform detailed and complex calculations, often involving large datasets, for the purpose of analysis and decision-making.

What's a more formal alternative to "crunch numbers"?

A more formal alternative is "perform statistical analysis" or "conduct quantitative assessment" depending on the specific context.

Is "crunch numbers" appropriate for academic writing?

While "crunch numbers" is widely understood, in formal academic writing, it's better to use more precise terms like "analyze data", "perform calculations" or "conduct statistical analysis".