head of sheep

USAGE SUMMARY

"head of sheep" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun phrase that refers to a group of sheep. For example, "The farmer counted the flock of sheep and found it consisted of thirty heads of sheep."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

By day, he would tend to 300 head of sheep and other livestock.

The New York Times

In the 1930s the United States had over 50m head of sheep.

The Economist

After the grapes died when a fungus hit them, he bought 30 head of sheep, and started a new crop of asparagus.

The New Yorker

He'd started out with eight or nine thousand head of sheep, intending to move the largest herd of its kind across the continent.

The New Yorker

He recalled how his father, at the height of a drought in 1971, when Evo was 11, took 50 head of sheep to another town and traded them for corn.

The New York Times

Setbacks occurred — twice the wheat crop failed, and one winter he lost several hundred head of sheep in a blizzard — but after a decade Mr. Clutter's domain consisted of over eight hundred acres owned outright and three thousand more worked on a rental basis — and that, as his colleagues admitted, was "a pretty good spread".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

The standout of the series — and by far the most political — was "The Sirens of the Lambs," a truck with cute automaton heads of sheep and cows poking through the slats, making alarmed noises on their way to slaughter.

The New York Times - Arts

In Ipswich in 1841, gangs smashed windows around the venue of the hustings and waved poles topped with the severed heads of sheep.

BBC

According the UN Food and Agriculture organization, in 2012 there were about 20 billion domestic fowl (primarily chicken, but also turkeys, geese and ducks), 1.7 billion heads of cattle and buffalo, and 2.1 billion heads of sheep and goats (FAO 2013).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

After implantation of the nanocrystalline HA paste into tibial head defects of sheep, the voids were completely filled with new bone even after 60 days.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

It is the head of a sheep seamlessly attached to the body of a dog.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about agricultural statistics or livestock inventories, use "head of sheep" to clearly indicate the number of sheep being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "heads of sheep" when referring to a single animal. "Head of sheep" is used as a unit of measure, not as a plural noun.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "head of sheep" functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving as a unit of measurement when referring to sheep, similar to "head of cattle". According to Ludwig, this is the correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "head of sheep" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that serves as a unit of measurement, particularly in agricultural contexts. Ludwig confirms that its primary function is to quantify the number of sheep, similar to "head of cattle". While the phrase appears in various sources, it's most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts. When writing, it's important to remember that "head of sheep" is the unit of measure and not a plural noun; thus, avoid using "heads of sheep" unless emphasizing individual animals as units. Overall, understanding the correct usage ensures clarity and precision in agricultural and economic discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

number of sheep

A straightforward way of referring to a quantity of sheep.

sheep count

Refers to the number of sheep, similar to "head of sheep" which is a unit of measurement.

sheep tally

Focuses on the process of counting sheep.

sheep in numbers

Emphasizes that sheep are being considered as a collective quantity.

sheep population

Refers to the total number of sheep in a specific area or group.

single sheep

Indicates one sheep, emphasizing the individual animal.

one sheep

A simple way to indicate a single sheep.

sheep livestock unit

A more formal way to quantify sheep in agricultural contexts.

sheep animal unit

Another formal way to express the quantity of sheep in agricultural terms.

ovine animal

Replaces "sheep" with a scientific term, slightly altering the tone.

FAQs

How is "head of sheep" used in agricultural contexts?

"Head of sheep" is a standard unit for counting sheep, especially in agriculture and livestock management. It's used to quantify the number of sheep in a flock or on a farm, similar to how "head of cattle" is used for cows.

What does "number of sheep" mean, and how does it relate to "head of sheep"?

"Number of sheep" is a general term for referring to the quantity of sheep. "Head of sheep" is a specific unit used to count or measure that quantity. So, you might say "the number of sheep in the flock is 200", which can also be expressed as "the flock consists of 200 heads of sheep".

Is it correct to say "heads of sheep" instead of "head of sheep"?

While "head of sheep" is the standard unit, "heads of sheep" can be used to emphasize multiple individual sheep when the context makes it clear that you are referring to individual animals considered as units. However, "head of sheep" is more common and generally preferred.

What are some synonyms for "head of sheep"?

While there isn't a direct synonym, you can use phrases like "sheep count" or "number of sheep" depending on the context. In more formal contexts, "sheep livestock unit" may be appropriate.