masses of

USAGE SUMMARY

"masses of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is most often used to indicate a large or excessive amount of something. You can use it in a variety of ways, such as: - There were masses of people gathered for the concert. - She has masses of clothes in her closet, but never anything to wear. - We need masses of supplies for the charity event. - The project was met with masses of criticism from the public. - He made masses of money from his successful business ventures.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Masses of it".

The New Yorker

Masses of them!

Independent

Masses of papers.

The New York Times - Books

Cold wet masses of air….

The New Yorker

Masses of townsfolk are gathered.

Independent

"Masses of dead.

The Guardian - Books

Masses of people.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Simply a mass of neurons.

The New York Times - Books

Critical mass of hockey enthusiasm.

The New York Times

A mass of a mess.

The New Yorker

A critical mass of disgust?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the specific context and choose synonyms like "abundance", "multitude", or "plenty" to add nuance to your writing.

Common error

While "masses of" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "a significant quantity of" or "a substantial amount of" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "masses of" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun, indicating a large quantity or number. It typically precedes a noun to express abundance, as seen in examples like "masses of people" or "masses of data." According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

22%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Masses of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase employed to denote a substantial quantity or abundance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, further supported by numerous examples spanning news, academic, and scientific domains. While its register leans towards neutral, substituting it with phrases like "a significant amount of" might be preferable in more formal settings. It's crucial to consider synonyms depending on context to add nuance in writing, with frequency patterns revealing higher use in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large quantity of

This alternative is more descriptive and emphasizes the amount.

a great deal of

This alternative offers a slightly more formal tone.

a multitude of

This alternative suggests a very large number, often implying variety.

an abundance of

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes a plentiful supply.

a significant amount of

This alternative emphasizes the importance of the quantity.

plenty of

This alternative is more informal and suggests sufficiency.

a host of

This alternative suggests a large number, often used for people or things.

a wealth of

This alternative suggests abundance and value.

numerous

This is a more concise, formal alternative.

loads of

This is a more informal and colloquial alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "masses of" in a sentence?

You can use "masses of" to describe a large quantity of something, for example, "There were masses of people at the concert", or "The project required masses of resources".

What's the difference between "masses of" and "a lot of"?

"Masses of" and "a lot of" are similar in meaning, both indicating a large quantity. However, "masses of" can sometimes imply an even greater or more overwhelming amount than "a lot of".

What can I say instead of "masses of"?

You can use alternatives like "a great deal of", "a large quantity of", or "plenty of", depending on the context.

Is "masses of" appropriate for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "masses of" might be considered less formal. In highly formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "a significant amount of" or "a substantial quantity of".