feeling for numbers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feeling for numbers" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has a natural aptitude or intuition for understanding and working with numerical data. Example: "She has a real feeling for numbers, which makes her an excellent accountant."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science & Research

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Analysing complex problems and a good feeling for numbers are essential for managing a department.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"We had been feeling for a number of years that it should not be an exclusive worship place in a public hospital," Father Hocker said.

The New York Times

They came out and backed the team in huge numbers both home and away and I am really feeling for them at this point in time".

BBC

Take shuffling footsteps, feeling for the bottom.

WikiHow

Be gentle when feeling for them!

WikiHow

It's easy to get a feeling for small numbers like 1, 2 and 3; some scientists believe infants as young as 5 months old, like rats, pigeons and monkeys, already understand such numbers intuitively.

The New York Times - Books

When admitted to emergency units or inpatient services, participants described the following negative experiences: being labelled, feeling like a number, feeling no longer a person but an illness, being judged for behaviours/symptoms, and/or being treated like a child.

BMJ Open

"She was feeling rubbish for a number of months and at the time.

BBC

"There's going to be some obvious reasons for me feeling a little bit better," said the British number one.

BBC

To make any sense of what's going on (and how bad things really are), you need a feeling for quite how big these numbers are.

The Guardian

"Scotland will be feeling sorry for themselves after the England game," said Bayonne number nine Phillips.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's capability, use "feeling for numbers" to highlight an intuitive understanding rather than just technical skill. It suggests a deeper, more natural connection with numerical concepts.

Common error

Avoid using "feeling for numbers" when the context requires demonstrating technical proficiency in mathematics or statistics. The phrase implies intuition, not necessarily rigorous calculation skills.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feeling for numbers" functions as a descriptor, indicating an intuitive understanding or aptitude in dealing with numerical data. Ludwig AI shows it's used to describe someone's natural ability rather than learned skill.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

20%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science & Research

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "feeling for numbers" describes someone with an intuitive understanding of numerical data. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its use in describing a natural aptitude, as opposed to technical skills. While grammatically sound, it's less common than alternatives like "knack for numbers". Use it when you want to convey an inherent, almost instinctual, grasp of numerical concepts. The contexts in which "feeling for numbers" appears vary, with its presence noted across Science, News & Media, and Wiki sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

knack for numbers

Focuses on a natural talent or skill.

aptitude for numbers

Emphasizes an inherent ability to understand and work with numbers.

affinity for numbers

Highlights a natural liking or attraction to numbers.

intuition for numbers

Stresses the ability to understand numbers instinctively, without conscious reasoning.

sense for numbers

Implies an innate understanding and appreciation of numerical concepts.

talent for numerical analysis

Highlights the ability to analyze numbers.

skill in quantitative reasoning

Focuses on reasoning using numbers and quantities.

natural at mathematics

Highlights math as a natural skill.

comfort with quantitative data

Implies being at ease while working with quantitative data.

adept at numerical problem solving

Focuses on solving problem using numbers.

FAQs

What does "feeling for numbers" mean?

The phrase "feeling for numbers" describes someone who has a natural intuition or aptitude for understanding and working with numerical data. It suggests an inherent understanding beyond just technical skills.

How can I use "feeling for numbers" in a sentence?

You might say, "She has a real "feeling for numbers", which makes her an excellent accountant," or "Analysing complex problems and a good "feeling for numbers" are essential for managing a department."

What can I say instead of "feeling for numbers"?

You can use alternatives like "knack for numbers", "aptitude for numbers", or "affinity for numbers" depending on the context.

Is "feeling for numbers" a common expression?

While grammatically correct, "feeling for numbers" is not as common as other phrases like "knack for numbers" or "head for figures". Its usage is considered relatively rare.