in what quantity

USAGE SUMMARY

"in what quantity" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to ask about how much of something is needed or wanted. For example: "I need to buy some sandpaper. In what quantity should I buy it?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

What should the government buy, from whom, in what quantity and at what price?

The New York Times

Customers can pick and choose what they want to try and in what quantity, with glasses offered in 25ml, 75ml and 150ml.

The Guardian - Travel

"We can understand in which sector buyers operate and what products they demand and in what quantity and quality," says co-founder Gregor Pecnik.

The Guardian

Though he did not specify what was leaking, or in what quantity, he ordered BP to provide more detailed information on its monitoring procedures.

Independent

Ecologists now know a great deal more than they used to about how ecosystems work, which habitats deliver which services, and in what quantity those services are supplied.

The Economist

Over time, the company specialized in helping stores that do not specialize in books pick which of the more than 50,000 new books published each year to stock and in what quantity, as well as handling shipping and returns.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The task of identifying how far the contamination has spread, and in what quantities, is proving difficult.

The Guardian

"It is absolutely unclear who used the stuff, in what quantities and to what effect," said a British official.

The New York Times

These demand prices are the guides that in effect tell producers which items to produce and in what quantities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In particular, parts of it regulate the activity of genes, and thus which proteins are produced and in what quantities.

The Economist

Ms. Austin says that the South Beach and other low-carb diets have spurred some of her patients to greater consciousness about what they eat and in what quantities.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking about abstract concepts or measurable but non-countable items, "in what quantity" is appropriate. For countable items, consider using "how many".

Common error

Avoid using "in what quantity" when you actually want to inquire about the characteristics or attributes of something. Use "in what quality" for inquiries about attributes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in what quantity" functions as an interrogative prepositional phrase. It introduces a question about the amount or number of something, seeking specific information regarding the extent or measure of a particular item or substance, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

34%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in what quantity" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase used to inquire about the amount or number of something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers examples across various domains, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources. While similar to phrases like "how much" or "what amount", "in what quantity" carries a more formal tone and is useful when precision is needed. When using this phrase, it's important to differentiate between quantity and quality, ensuring the correct term is used to convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how much

A more direct and common way to ask about the amount of something, slightly less formal.

what amount

Similar in meaning but less frequently used compared to "how much".

how many

Used specifically for countable items, unlike "in what quantity" which can be used for both countable and uncountable items.

what number

Synonymous to "how many", referring to countable objects.

to what extent

Focuses on the degree or scope of something, differing from a specific amount.

in what volume

Specifically refers to the amount of space something occupies, more concrete.

what proportion

Emphasizes the relative amount in relation to a whole.

in what degree

Highlights the level or intensity, not necessarily a measurable amount.

to what level

Similar to "to what extent", indicates degree or stage.

what size

Focuses on physical dimensions, which is a more specific meaning than "in what quantity".

FAQs

How do I use "in what quantity" in a sentence?

"In what quantity" is used to ask about the amount or number of something. For example, "The recipe doesn't specify in what quantity the spices should be added."

What's the difference between "in what quantity" and "how much"?

While both ask about amount, "how much" is more common and general. "In what quantity" is more formal and can be used when precision is needed. You could also consider using "what amount".

Is it better to use "how much" or "in what quantity"?

"How much" is generally preferred for everyday conversation because is more informal. "In what quantity" is more formal and can be more appropriate in technical or formal writing.

What's a synonym for "in what quantity"?

Synonyms include "how much", "what amount", or "to what extent", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.