mass of students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mass of students" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large group of students, often in the context of discussing their collective behavior or characteristics. Example: "The mass of students gathered in the auditorium for the annual school assembly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

We're going to turn off a mass of students, when there's no need for it.

The Guardian

"There just wasn't a critical mass of students of color who wanted the same things," she said.

The New Yorker

It lost a further mass of students when the coalition allowed universities to triple tuition fees (breaking a Lib Dem election pledge).

The Economist

The mass of students and university workers will congregate at Horse Guards Avenue in Central London at 11.30am today, before marching past Westminster to a rally point at Millbank, around two miles from the start point.

The Guardian

But the Hollywood version of high school does not come close to the complexity of New York's schools, where national origin can define a clique and a critical mass of students from one country can operate in their own exclusive social world.

The New York Times

It was the era of mass production's answer to educating a mass of students to prepare them to enter the workforce.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

He produced and wrote a mass of student shows, and in his mid-20s contributed to the West End revues Slings and Arrows and Oranges and Lemons.

The Guardian

Imagine, for example, that you have a mass of student commuters using public e-bikes to ride from the train station to their university.

Huffington Post

When masses of students boycott classes, it fills a country with an air of emergency and danger.

The New Yorker

Other events that attract masses of students are the numerous gratis festivals that take place throughout the year in public parks, such as the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland festival.

BBC

It is an education that on one hand motivates and forms masses of students, but on the other hand has to identify and support students who are especially competent to work as a founder.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mass of students", consider the connotation. It often implies a large, somewhat undifferentiated group. If you wish to emphasize the individuals within the group, consider alternatives like "large group of students".

Common error

Be careful not to use "mass of students" when referring to a small, distinct group. "Group of students" or "cohort of students" are more appropriate in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mass of students" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as a subject or object within a sentence. Ludwig AI shows that it denotes a large quantity of students, often viewed as a collective entity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mass of students" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that refers to a large group of students. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its acceptability across various contexts. It is most frequently found in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, indicating a neutral register. While versatile, it's important to consider the potential connotations and choose alternative phrases like "large student body" or "significant student population" when a more precise or formal tone is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large student body

Replaces "mass of" with "large", focusing on the size of the student population.

great number of students

Replaces "mass of" with "great number of", emphasizing quantity.

student multitude

Substitutes "mass of" with "multitude", providing a more formal and literary tone.

significant student population

Focuses on the demographic aspect of students, using "population" instead of "mass".

considerable group of students

Emphasizes the size of the group using "considerable" in place of "mass".

throng of students

Implies a densely packed group of students.

horde of students

Uses "horde" to convey a sense of a large, possibly unruly, group.

multitude of learners

Replaces "students" with "learners", broadening the scope to include educational contexts beyond traditional schooling.

sea of students

Creates a visual metaphor for a vast and undifferentiated group of students.

aggregation of students

Uses a more technical term, "aggregation", to describe the group of students.

FAQs

How can I use "mass of students" in a sentence?

You can use "mass of students" to describe a large gathering or population of students, such as, "The "mass of students" protested the tuition increase."

What's a more formal alternative to "mass of students"?

A more formal alternative to "mass of students" could be "large student body" or "significant student population".

Is it correct to use "mass of students" in academic writing?

Yes, "mass of students" is acceptable in academic writing, though you might consider alternatives like "great number of students" for a slightly more precise tone depending on the context.

What's the difference between "mass of students" and "group of students"?

"Mass of students" generally implies a larger, less defined quantity, whereas "group of students" suggests a smaller, potentially more organized or distinct collection. The phrase "mass of students" also has implications of a critical or important amount of students, such as in the phrase critical mass.