innumerable number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "innumerable number of" is considered redundant in written English, as "innumerable" already implies a vast quantity.
It can be used in contexts where one wants to emphasize the vastness of a quantity, but it's better to choose a more concise expression. Example: "There are an innumerable number of stars in the universe, making it impossible to count them all."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"There's an innumerable number of people who have suffered violence or injustice who might write to the pope for a word of comfort, and it's clear that he can't answer all of them," said Alberto Melloni, a Vatican historian and the director of the John XXIII Foundation for Religious Studies in Bologna, a liberal Catholic research institute.

The New York Times

"Everyone had to deal with it, there are an innumerable number of witnesses".

BBC

Throughout the game, Joel has killed an innumerable number of zombies.

Huffington Post

Furthermore, according to the Jain karmic theory, each and every soul, including self, has reincarnated as an animal, plant or microorganism innumerable number of times besides re-incarnated as humans.

Wikipedia

The White House didn't explain what happened to the tree, and with an innumerable number of possible explanations out there maybe someone stole it, or it died, or Trump chopped it down in a fit of blind fury the good people of the internet launched an informal investigation into its whereabouts.

Vice

"An innumerable number of things have been invented to damage our name, and they can continue doing this with the human rights defenders who are still on the case," Alejandro Valencia, another of the experts, said in the lead up to the report's release.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Use of instrument questionnaire items is essential for measurement of outcome of interest in innumerable numbers of clinical trials.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Deep sRNA sequencing has only been performed for the former two species, whereas high-throughput sRNA sequencing data are available for innumerable numbers of glycophytes.

BMC Plant Biology

He also defends the film's graphic violence, saying it is no different from innumerable scenes in any number of critically beloved Martin Scorsese films.

Los Angeles Times

The offer was accepted, and for the next 18 years he remained in Milan, where he executed a number of paintings and innumerable drawings, worked on a never-completed equestrian monument to the Sforza dynasty, planned additions to the canal systems of the city, designed costumes for ducal entertainments, and wrote extensively.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"For at least the past 10 years, I've covered innumerable papal trips where a good number of commentators and, for that matter, spectators waved goodbye for what they were sure was the last time, and lots of emotional scripting followed," said William Blakemore, a veteran correspondent for ABC News who covers the Vatican.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "innumerable number of" isn't strictly incorrect, consider using just "innumerable" to avoid redundancy and make your writing more concise. For example, instead of "an innumerable number of stars", write "innumerable stars".

Common error

Avoid using multiple intensifiers with "innumerable". Phrases like "a truly innumerable number of" can sound awkward. Choose one strong descriptor or simply use "innumerable" alone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "innumerable number of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying a quantity that is too large to count. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI notes that the phrase is somewhat redundant, since "innumerable" already implies a vast quantity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "innumerable number of" is used to describe a quantity that is too large to count. While not strictly incorrect, it's often considered redundant because the word "innumerable" already implies this meaning. Ludwig AI's analysis suggests it's acceptable but advises using just "innumerable" for conciseness. It appears in various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias, but aiming for brevity in writing is usually preferable. Using a single word such as "countless" or "myriad" may also improve your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

countless number of

Replaces "innumerable" with "countless", another synonym for a very large quantity.

myriad number of

Substitutes "innumerable" with "myriad", emphasizing variety within the large quantity.

vast number of

Replaces "innumerable" with "vast", focusing on the immense size of the quantity.

limitless number of

Substitutes "innumerable" with "limitless", highlighting the unbounded nature of the quantity.

uncountable number of

Replaces "innumerable" with "uncountable", emphasizing the impossibility of counting.

immeasurable number of

Substitutes "innumerable" with "immeasurable", highlighting that it is impossible to measure.

boundless number of

Replaces "innumerable" with "boundless", focusing on the lack of limits.

unlimited quantity of

Emphasizes the lack of restrictions on the amount, replacing "innumerable" with "unlimited quantity".

a plethora of

Replaces the entire phrase with "a plethora of", indicating an abundance or excess.

a multitude of

Substitutes the whole phrase with "a multitude of", conveying a large but not necessarily infinite quantity.

FAQs

Is "innumerable number of" redundant?

Yes, the phrase "innumerable number of" can be considered redundant because "innumerable" already implies a quantity too large to count. Using just "innumerable" is often more concise.

What's a more concise way to say "innumerable number of"?

You can simply use "innumerable" by itself. Other alternatives include "countless", "myriad", or "numerous" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "innumerable number of"?

While often redundant, "innumerable number of" can be used for emphasis when you want to strongly highlight the vastness of a quantity, but consider if the emphasis is truly necessary.

Are there any contexts where "innumerable number of" is grammatically incorrect?

The phrase isn't grammatically incorrect, but stylistically it can be considered less desirable in formal writing due to its redundancy. Using "innumerable" on its own is generally preferred.