how many feet

USAGE SUMMARY

"how many feet" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when asking a question about distance or length, for example "How many feet is the river wide here?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

How many feet in a mile?

The New York Times - Arts

Susana Pena now knows how many feet are in an acre.

The New York Times

Asked how many feet of track the layout has, Mr. Sheely said he had no idea.

The New York Times

Where, specifically, did the trains stop at Sobibor? How many feet was it to the entrance to the camp?

The New Yorker

"I never thought, as a Harvard-trained biologist, I would be calculating how many feet of concrete you need to put under a dog-proof fence," Çağan mused.

The New Yorker

Much of the damage is psychological and social -- how many feet did you step back when your co-worker told you about his bedbug infestation?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Their hope is to destabilise the Pushtun south and east of Afghanistan with incursions from their bases in Pakistan and why not?—muscle in on the drug trade.It is unclear how many foot soldiers Messrs Omar and Hekmatyar have, or how determined they are.

The Economist

Trying to measure and improve a game through only studying mechanics is like trying to improve tennis solely by measuring how many aces occur, or how many foot faults happen.

TechCrunch

I'd like to know how many foot problems are caused by not being able to afford a pair of shoes that fits properly.

Huffington Post

Usually, storage spaces price out their packages by square foot, but most people don't know exactly how many square feet they need.

TechCrunch

We measured the roof and then calculated exactly how many three-foot wide fifty-foot long rolls of tar paper we needed for the job.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking about dimensions, specify the object or space you're measuring (e.g. "How many feet wide is the room?") for clarity.

Common error

Avoid vague questions like "How many feet?" by stating what you are measuring (e.g. "How many feet deep is the pool?").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how many feet" functions as an interrogative clause used to inquire about a distance or length measured in feet. It is used to seek a numerical value representing a measurement. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "how many feet" is a grammatically correct interrogative clause used to inquire about measurements in feet. Ludwig AI indicates that it's a valid and usable phrase in English. While its frequency is uncommon, it appears mostly in neutral contexts like news and media, serving the purpose of eliciting specific measurements. To enhance clarity, it's best practice to specify what's being measured. Related phrases include "what is the length in "feet"?" and "what's the distance in "feet"?". Avoiding vague questions and clearly stating the subject of measurement helps prevent misunderstanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

What is the length in feet?

Focuses directly on length, specifying the unit of measurement.

What's the distance in feet?

Emphasizes distance rather than quantity.

How many feet long?

Specifies the dimension being measured.

How many feet in length?

Adds formal tone by specifying 'in length'.

What is the measurement in feet?

Highlights the act of measuring and the unit used.

What is the height in feet?

Specifically asks about vertical distance.

What's the depth in feet?

Focuses on the measurement of depth.

Dimension in feet?

Short form of inquiry about dimension using the indicated unit.

Length in feet?

Short form of inquiry about length using the indicated unit.

Distance in feet?

Short form of inquiry about distance using the indicated unit.

FAQs

How do I use "how many feet" in a sentence?

Use "how many feet" when inquiring about a length or distance, such as "How many feet long is the fence?" or "How many feet away is the building"?

What's a less direct way to ask / about "how many feet"?

Instead of directly asking "how many feet", you could ask "What is the length in "feet"?" or "What's the distance in "feet"?".

What is the difference between "how many feet" and "how many foot"?

"How many "feet"" is the correct plural form when referring to multiple feet. "How many foot" is grammatically incorrect in most contexts.

What can I say instead of "how many feet are in a mile"?

Alternatives include "What is the distance of a mile in "feet"?" or "What's the "foot" equivalent of a mile?".