how much business

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'how much business' is correct and usable in written English.
It is commonly used in a variety of contexts to ask about the quantity or scale of a particular activity or endeavor. For example, you could say, "I'm curious to know how much business has been generated from our new marketing campaign."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How much business has left the firm?

The New York Times

But how much business remains to be seen.

The New York Times

IT'S amazing how much business travellers' phones can impact on their lives.

The Economist

Those teams could expand and contract depending on how much business the Western firm has.

The New York Times

Different market participants receive different rebates depending on how much business they do with the exchange.

Columbia University

"Banks will bring me how much business, two to three customers a day?" he asked.

The New York Times

"It will depend on how much business we pick up," he said.

The New York Times

It all depends on how much business there is, I was told.

The New York Times - Food

Several chains have been remarking this year about how much business is up in the recession.

The New York Times

It is always hard to know how much business is really talked about between quarters or putts.

The Economist

On one side, the benefits of a shared currency depend on how much business would be affected.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "how much business", specify the time frame you're interested in (e.g., "how much business did they do this quarter?") for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "how much business" when you actually want to inquire about the number of businesses. "How much business" refers to the volume or value of transactions, whereas "how many businesses" refers to the quantity of enterprises.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how much business" primarily functions as an interrogative phrase used to inquire about the quantity or volume of commercial activity. It appears in both direct and indirect questions, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "how much business" is a common and grammatically sound way to ask about the volume or scale of commercial activity. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and numerous examples show its widespread use in news, business, and academic contexts. While versatile, it's important to differentiate it from "how many businesses", which refers to a count of enterprises. When using "how much business", be specific about the timeframe for clarity. Alternatives like "business volume" or "revenue generated" can provide nuanced ways to express similar ideas. In summary, "how much business" is a reliable and versatile phrase for inquiring about the extent of commercial operations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

business volume

Replaces the quantification of 'how much' with a direct reference to the total amount of business activity.

amount of commerce

Substitutes "business" with "commerce", offering a slightly broader term for economic activity.

sales volume

Focuses specifically on the amount of sales generated, narrowing the scope from overall business to sales.

revenue generated

Emphasizes the income produced by business activities, shifting the focus to financial outcomes.

transaction volume

Highlights the number of transactions completed, emphasizing the activity of buying and selling.

business turnover

Refers to the total value of goods or services sold in a specific period, emphasizing financial throughput.

business activity level

Replaces 'how much' with 'level', providing a different way to quantify the extent of business engagements.

degree of commercial activity

Uses a more formal and abstract term to describe the extent of business operations.

level of trade

Focuses on trade as a specific form of business activity, indicating the scale of exchange.

scope of operations

Highlights the extent and range of business activities, shifting focus to the operational scale.

FAQs

What does "how much business" mean?

The phrase "how much business" refers to the volume, value, or extent of commercial activity conducted by a company, industry, or individual. It asks about the scale of transactions and operations.

How can I use "how much business" in a sentence?

You might ask, "How much business did they do last year?" or "It depends on how much business we can attract."

What are some alternatives to saying "how much business"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "business volume", "sales volume", or "revenue generated" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "how many business" instead of "how much business"?

No, it's not correct. "How many businesses" refers to the number of separate companies or enterprises. "How much business" refers to the total amount of trade or activity a business or group of businesses engages in.