litany of figures

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "litany of figures" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a long, repetitive list of numerical data or statistics, often in a context where such figures are being recited or presented. Example: "The report presented a litany of figures that highlighted the company's financial struggles over the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Brace yourself now for the usual Fybishian litany of figures.

The New York Times

Last year, there was a litany of figures on economic growth, this year, none.

The New York Times

In a seminal 2009 essay on the subject, by Elizabeth Sifton, senior vice president of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, a litany of figures are blamed, including the industry itself.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Defense spending as a percentage of the gross national product is the lowest it has been since prior to Pearl Harbor," Mr. Bush said today as he presented a litany of facts and figures to portray a military in alarming decline.

The New York Times

The film provides a litany of facts and figures, without attribution, to make the case that the fence (which will eventually cover no more than 700 miles along a roughly 2,000-mile 2,000-mileils to stop anything: not terrorism, not drug smuggling and certainly not illegal immigration.

The New York Times - Arts

The litany of the saints includes countless figures — from Joan of Arc to the newly canonized Mary MacKillop, an Australian nun involved in the reporting of child abuse by a priest — who suffered injustices from church authorities in their lifetimes.

The New York Times

Between the 18th- and 19th-century figures, the litany of pink gold, diamonds, rubies and emeralds and the details of the charges, the complaint has a taste of European history, a bit of a bankruptcy treatise and a hint of a shopping scene from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills".

The New York Times

But New York has a hallowed history of persnickety cooks: Kenny Shopsin became something of a cult figure for the litany of rules — including no parties bigger than four, and no more than one order at each table of any particular dish — enforced for years at Shopsin's diner in the West Village, now a small outpost at the Essex Street Market on the Lower East Side.

The New York Times

A litany of algorithms for the identification of design and machining features are proposed.

Computer-Aided Design

On the one hand, Jobs was an intrinsically anti-authoritarian figure whose life was a litany of rebellions against every kind of convention.

TechCrunch

To her compatriots, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi is a mother figure and a repository for the nearly impossible litany of aspirations for Myanmar's 55 million people, many of them desperately poor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "litany of figures", ensure the context implies a sense of tediousness or overwhelming detail. It's best suited when the sheer quantity of numerical data is a significant aspect of the message.

Common error

Avoid using "litany of figures" in casual conversations or informal writing. The phrase carries a formal tone and is more appropriate for reports, analyses, or presentations where detailed statistical information is being conveyed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "litany of figures" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a long and often tedious list of numerical data. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "litany of figures" is a correct and usable expression in English, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It denotes a long, often tedious, list of numerical data, typically found in formal contexts like news reports or academic papers. While not extremely common, its usage is appropriate when emphasizing the overwhelming or complex nature of statistical information. Alternatives such as "catalog of statistics" or "series of data points" can be considered depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

catalog of statistics

Replaces "litany" with "catalog", emphasizing a structured listing of statistical data.

series of data points

Focuses on the individual data elements rather than the comprehensive list, suitable when highlighting specific values.

endless list of numbers

Emphasizes the length and potentially overwhelming nature of the numerical data.

recitation of statistics

Highlights the act of presenting or reciting numerical data, often in a formal or tedious manner.

parade of numbers

Conveys a sense of a long and perhaps impressive display of numerical data.

accumulation of data

Focuses on the process of gathering and presenting a substantial amount of numerical information.

inventory of numerical data

Implies a comprehensive and organized listing of numerical information.

detailed statistical account

Highlights the precision and thoroughness of the numerical information being presented.

succession of numerical facts

Emphasizes the sequential presentation of numerical information.

long enumeration of values

Stresses the act of counting and specifying each numerical value in a tedious fashion.

FAQs

How can I use "litany of figures" in a sentence?

You can use "litany of figures" to describe a long and often tedious list of numerical data. For example, "The economic report presented a "litany of figures" to illustrate the country's financial struggles."

What's a good alternative to "litany of figures"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "catalog of statistics", "series of data points", or "endless list of numbers".

Is "litany of figures" formal or informal?

"Litany of figures" is generally considered a formal phrase and is best suited for academic, professional, or news-related contexts.

What does "litany" mean in the context of "litany of figures"?

In this context, "litany" refers to a lengthy and often repetitive list. It implies that the figures are being presented in a drawn-out or tedious manner.