how many others

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how many others" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in situations where you are asking about the quantity of people or things in addition to a certain number of already mentioned items. For example, "I've heard of five people who are interested in this job. How many others are there?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How many others were?

The Guardian - Books

How many others were being similarly abused?

The New York Times

How many others will not?

The Guardian - Opinion

How many others will be charged?

The Guardian - Sport

How many others did you get?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

How many others are supporting these attacks?

The Guardian

"But how many others are there?

The Guardian - Sport

How many others were out there?

The Washington Post

How many others remain in the auction is unclear.

The New York Times

Exactly how many others is hard to say.

The Economist

She lost count of how many others were there.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "how many others", ensure the context clearly establishes what the 'others' are in addition to. This avoids ambiguity and ensures your question is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "how many others" without a clear reference point. For example, instead of saying, "I saw some people at the park, how many others were there?" be more specific: "I saw five people at the park, how many others were there?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how many others" functions as an interrogative phrase, used to inquire about the quantity or number of additional items, individuals, or entities beyond those already specified or known. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent and valid use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how many others" is a grammatically sound and commonly used interrogative phrase used to inquire about the quantity of additional items or individuals. Ludwig AI confirms that it frequently appears in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts. When employing the phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines what "others" refers to and prevent vagueness. For alternative expressions, consider phrases such as "how many more are there" or "what number of others", depending on the level of formality required. As with any question, ensure that the response to "how many others" will contribute meaningfully to the discussion or analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how many more are there

Directly asks about the additional quantity beyond what is already known.

how numerous are the rest

Rephrases the query to focus on the numerical quantity of the remaining items or individuals.

what quantity of others

Replaces "how many" with "what quantity", maintaining a focus on the amount.

what number of others exist

Emphasizes the existence and quantity of others in a more formal tone.

how many individuals else

A slightly more direct and less formal way of asking about additional people.

what is the count of the remaining

Focuses on obtaining a precise numerical count of the remaining items.

what other number is there

Focuses on identifying an alternative numerical value or quantity.

how many supplementary ones

Highlights the additional or extra nature of the items being inquired about.

to what extent do others exist

Shifts the focus to the degree or scope of existence of others, rather than a specific number.

how much else is present

Broadens the query to include non-countable items, focusing on the amount present.

FAQs

How can I use "how many others" in a sentence?

Use "how many others" to inquire about a quantity of items or people in addition to those already mentioned. For example: "Three students failed the test; how many others didn't pass?"

What's a more formal alternative to "how many others"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "what number of others" or "what quantity of others". For instance, instead of asking, "We have five applicants; how many others are expected?", you could say, "We have five applicants; what number of others are expected?"

Is it correct to say "how many other" instead of "how many others"?

No, "how many others" is correct when referring to multiple additional items or people. "How many other" is grammatically incorrect in this context. However, you can use "how many other" with a singular noun, for example: How many other options do we have?

What is the difference between "how many others" and "how much else"?

"How many others" is used for countable items or people, while "how much else" is used for uncountable quantities. For instance, "how many others" would be appropriate for "How many other students are in the class?", whereas "how much else" would suit "How much else do I need to pay?"