hundreds of ants

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hundreds of ants" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a large number of ants in a specific context, such as in nature, a garden, or an infestation. Example: "As I walked through the park, I noticed hundreds of ants marching in a line across the path."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

More than once, the brochure came with hundreds of ants.

The New York Times - Travel

"After a rain, we observed hundreds of ants being captured by pitchers".

The New York Times - Science

They hung fabric swaths in an array of rainbow colors high in the forest, then perched in the treetops and dropped hundreds of ants.

The New York Times - Science

Within an hour, hundreds of ants from both colonies were milling around, and the original scouts, all of whom were relatively small and thin, had been joined by contingents of the more massively built soldier ants.

The New Yorker

For example, honeypot ants of the U.S. Southwest stage elaborate, ritualistic face-offs against nearby nests, involving hundreds of ants and sometimes lasting for days.

Science Magazine

Honeypot ants of the U.S. Southwest stage elaborate, ritualistic face-offs against nearby nests that can involve hundreds of ants and last for days.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Here, we report the genome size for 40 species of ants distributed across 10 of the 20 currently recognized subfamilies, thus making Formicidae the 4th most surveyed insect family and elevating the Hymenoptera to the 5th most surveyed insect order.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Lots of ants.

The New York Times

Myrmecophobia- Fear of ants.

The New Yorker

"A society of ants," Amos said.

The New Yorker

So I had my class do a survey of ants.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "hundreds of ants", ensure the context clearly indicates why the specific quantity is relevant. For example, compare it to a situation with fewer ants or to a larger infestation to highlight the magnitude.

Common error

Avoid using "hundreds of ants" when describing a small number. Overstating the quantity can undermine your credibility. If the number is closer to dozens, use that term instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hundreds of ants" functions as a quantifier followed by a noun. It specifies the quantity of ants, indicating a number greater than one hundred but less than one thousand. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is appropriate in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hundreds of ants" is a grammatically sound and widely understood way to describe a specific quantity of ants. While not as frequent as more general terms like "many ants", it provides a more precise indication of scale. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability across various registers, from news reports to scientific articles. When using this phrase, ensure the context warrants the specified number; avoid exaggeration and choose the most accurate quantifier to maintain credibility. Alternatives such as "numerous ants" or "a large number of ants" can be employed when a less specific count is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

many ants

This is a general term indicating a considerable quantity but lacks the precision of specifying "hundreds".

numerous ants

Similar to 'many', but slightly more formal, still less specific than "hundreds of ants".

a large number of ants

A more descriptive and less concise way of expressing a similar idea.

a swarm of ants

Implies a large, moving group, focusing on collective behavior more than exact number.

a great many ants

Similar to 'many', but with slightly more emphasis, still lacks numerical precision.

a multitude of ants

Emphasizes a very large, uncountable number, less precise than "hundreds".

a massive quantity of ants

Emphasizes the scale and size of the population, rather than a specific count.

a considerable number of ants

Indicates a notable quantity, but not necessarily quantified as "hundreds".

scores of ants

Indicates a quantity of at least twenty, but less specific than 'hundreds'.

quite a few ants

A less formal way to indicate more than just a few, but far less specific.

FAQs

How can I use "hundreds of ants" in a sentence?

You can use "hundreds of ants" to describe a significant number of ants, such as "There were "hundreds of ants" marching into the kitchen" or "The boiling water will kill "hundreds of ants" on contact".

What's a less specific alternative to "hundreds of ants"?

If you want to avoid being so specific, you could use phrases like "many ants", "numerous ants", or "a large number of ants".

When is it appropriate to use "hundreds of ants" instead of "thousands of ants"?

Use "hundreds of ants" when you have an estimate suggesting the number is more than a hundred but less than a thousand. If the number is clearly over a thousand, "thousands of ants" would be more accurate.

Is it correct to say "hundreds of ant" instead of "hundreds of ants"?

No, "hundreds of ant" is grammatically incorrect. Because "hundreds" implies a plural quantity, you must use the plural form ""hundreds of ants"".