frightening number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "frightening number" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a quantity or statistic that is alarming or causes fear. Example: "The report revealed a frightening number of people affected by the disease, prompting immediate action from health officials."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

A frightening number of nominally liberal figures endorsed the massacre.

The Guardian

They are used by a frightening number of high school and college-age students.

The New York Times - Health

Miranda It might not be to everyone's taste, but Miranda Hart's latest bout of broad slapstick silliness has been winning over a frightening number of viewers of late.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"At sea, a frightening number of refugees and migrants are dying each year; on land, people fleeing war are finding their way blocked by closed borders".

The Guardian

The founders wanted the "people's branch" to be strong, but the Bush administration has usurped a frightening number of Congress's powers — with very little resistance.

The New York Times

We hear over and over that consumer spending accounts for 70percentt of the gross domestic product, but we seldom hear about the frightening number of Americans who are trying desperately to maintain a working-class or middle-class style of life while descending into a sinkhole of debt.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

The official price is £3bn, but that's not counting lost productivity and expertise as everyone reapplies for their job and frightening numbers of senior managers quit, with a real shortage of expertise to fill the 212 clinical commissioning groups.

The Guardian - Opinion

Certainly frightening numbers.

TechCrunch

It's frightening, the number of Vienna sausages and Slim Jims that I ate as a kid.

The New York Times

And while frightening, a number of residents view the gunfire as something of a lesser evil, because the gunmen are not usually trying to kill.

The New York Times

"It seems to me it's almost frightening the number of people who are living that are potentially carriers — well they are carriers — with the potential to spread, whereas in the past they died more readily and then at that point they are not posing a risk," she said.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use a concrete example to make the "frightening number" more relatable. Quantify the impact to make it easier for the audience to grasp the severity.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the consequences of the "frightening number" without sufficient evidence. Overstating can undermine credibility. Present the facts objectively and let the audience draw their own conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "frightening number" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase describing a noun. It intensifies the noun "number" by conveying a sense of alarm or worry about the quantity being referenced. Ludwig examples confirm its adjectival role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

12%

Science & Research

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "frightening number" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express concern about a quantity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as an adjective phrase, pre-modifying a noun. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and audience. For more formal settings, alternatives like "alarming quantity" or "concerning proportion" might be more appropriate. The phrase is frequently seen in News & Media sources, and its effective use involves clearly stating the reference of the number and quantifying its impact for the audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alarming quantity

Replaces "number" with "quantity", emphasizing the amount is causing concern.

disturbing amount

Substitutes "frightening" with "disturbing" and "number" with "amount", focusing on the unsettling nature of the quantity.

worrying figure

Uses "worrying" instead of "frightening" and "figure" instead of "number", highlighting the concern associated with the statistic.

shocking statistic

Emphasizes the surprise and negative impact of the number by using "shocking" and "statistic".

concerning proportion

Focuses on the relative size of the number in relation to a whole, suggesting it's a cause for worry.

significant incidence

Highlights the importance or impact of the number, especially in the context of events or occurrences.

substantial frequency

Draws attention to how often something occurs, implying the number is surprisingly high.

high incidence

Indicates a greater-than-expected occurrence rate, suggesting concern regarding the prevalence.

unsettling frequency

Replaces "frightening" with "unsettling", focusing on the disturbing nature of how often the number occurs.

disquieting level

Highlights that the "level" of something is causing anxiety.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "frightening number" in a sentence?

To effectively use "frightening number", clearly state what the number refers to and why it's alarming. For example, "The report revealed a "frightening number" of cyberattacks, indicating a severe vulnerability in our network security".

What are some alternatives to "frightening number"?

Alternatives include "alarming quantity", "disturbing amount", or "worrying figure", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Each emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the concerning quantity.

Is "frightening number" formal enough for academic writing?

While "frightening number" is acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "significant incidence" or "concerning proportion" in academic contexts to maintain a professional tone.

Can "frightening number" be used to describe positive trends?

No, "frightening number" is typically used to describe negative or concerning trends. For positive trends, consider phrases like "significant increase" or "remarkable growth".