eight of them

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'eight of them' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a group of eight items. For example, "I found eight pencils on the ground; three of them were broken."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Six to eight of them!

The New York Times

Eight of them broke free.

The New Yorker

Eight of them have pleaded guilty.

The New York Times

Eight of them died.

The Washington Post

He now has eight of them.

The New York Times

About eight of them were private jets.

The New York Times

Well, eight of them.

The Guardian

There were eight of them.

The Washington Post

Eight of them surround us.

The Guardian - Travel

Eight of them are beaming.

The Guardian - Sport

Six months later, eight of them were fired.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eight of them" when referring to a specific group of eight items or people that has already been mentioned or is clearly understood from the context. This avoids unnecessary repetition and makes your writing more concise.

Common error

Ensure that the "them" in "eight of them" has a clear and unambiguous antecedent in your writing. Avoid using the phrase if it's not immediately obvious what "them" refers to, as this can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "eight of them" functions as a pronoun phrase used to quantify a subset of a previously mentioned group. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

39%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "eight of them" is a versatile pronoun phrase widely used to refer to a specific quantity within a known group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, including news, scientific publications, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the reference to "them" is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "eight individuals" or "eight members" can offer a more formal tone if needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eight individuals

Replaces "them" with a more formal term for people.

eight persons

Uses a more formal term, "persons", instead of "them".

eight among them

Emphasizes inclusion within a broader scope.

eight members of the group

Specifies that the eight are part of a larger group.

eight of those present

Highlights the presence of the eight within a location or situation.

a group of eight

Changes the structure to emphasize the group size.

eight from that set

Focuses on the selection from a specific set.

eight in number

Rephrases to emphasize the quantity.

eight out of the total

Highlights the eight's proportion relative to a larger number.

eight of that kind

Focuses on the specific type or category.

FAQs

How can I use "eight of them" in a sentence?

Use "eight of them" when you've already identified a group and want to specify that eight members of that group are being discussed. For example, "I bought a dozen eggs, but "eight of them" were cracked".

What's a more formal way to say "eight of them"?

In a formal context, you could replace "eight of them" with phrases like "eight individuals", "eight members", or "eight persons" depending on what "them" refers to. These options provide a more professional tone.

Is it grammatically correct to say "eight of them is" instead of "eight of them are"?

No, "eight of them are" is the grammatically correct form. Since "eight" is plural, it requires the plural verb "are". "Eight of them is" is incorrect.

What can I say instead of "eight of them" to avoid repetition?

To avoid repetition, consider using alternatives such as "eight individuals", "eight members", or rephrasing the sentence to specify what the eight are. For example, instead of "Eight of them were chosen", you could say "Eight participants were chosen".