millions of tons

USAGE SUMMARY

'millions of tons' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used to refer to a large or specific amount of something, usually in the context of measurement. For example, "Each year, millions of tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Tens of millions of tons are produced each year.

Britannica

It showed energy equivalents in millions of tons of TNT, not thousands.

The New York Times - Science

Within a century, the country was producing millions of tons of it.

The New York Times

Millions of tons ended up rotting in warehouses, and the government lost billions of dollars.

The New York Times

Millions of tons of pellets are being produced in the United States and shipped to Europe.

The New York Times - Science

Instead, they are sending millions of tons back into the atmosphere.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Hundreds of thousands of tons of napalm were also used in Vietnam.

The New Yorker

And hundreds of thousands of tons of costly road salt is going unused.

The New York Times

Tens of thousands of tons of food alone must arrive daily in order to meet demands.

Britannica

Asphalt reserves are estimated at more than six million tons, and tens of thousands of tons are extracted annually.

Britannica

The scientists found that such formations in Oman naturally sequester hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide a year.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "millions of tons", ensure the context provides a clear understanding of what is being measured (e.g., carbon emissions, waste, cargo) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid switching between "millions of tons" and other units (e.g., "billions of pounds") within the same context without proper conversion, as this can confuse readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "millions of tons" functions as a quantifier, specifying a large quantity of a substance or material. It is typically used as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

16%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "millions of tons" is a common and grammatically correct quantifier used to express large quantities, particularly in contexts related to industrial production, waste management, and environmental impact. Ludwig confirms its broad applicability. As the analysis shows, it appears frequently in News & Media, Academia, and Encyclopedias, indicating its widespread use across various registers. While "millions of tons" is generally a neutral phrase, it's important to provide context to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity. Related phrases like "billions of tons" or "hundreds of thousands of tons" can be used to adjust the scale, and alternatives such as "large quantities of" or "vast amounts of" offer more general expressions of abundance. Using specific units, such as metric tons (tonnes), is crucial for international audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

millions of kilograms

Changes the unit of mass from tons to kilograms, still representing a large quantity.

millions of pounds

Expresses the quantity in pounds instead of tons, altering the unit of measurement.

millions of liters

Switches from a measure of mass to a measure of volume, but keeps the large quantity.

millions of gallons

Similar to liters, this uses gallons, another unit of volume, rather than mass.

billions of tons

Increases the magnitude of the quantity significantly from millions to billions.

hundreds of thousands of tons

Decreases the magnitude of the quantity, expressing a smaller, though still substantial, amount.

large quantities of

Replaces the specific measurement with a more general expression of abundance.

vast amounts of

Similar to 'large quantities', this phrase conveys a sense of immensity without a precise figure.

significant tonnage of

Uses the term 'tonnage' to emphasize the weight or capacity, highlighting the scale of the quantity.

substantial volume of

Focuses on the volume rather than the weight, suitable when describing liquids or bulk materials.

FAQs

How is "millions of tons" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "millions of tons" is used to quantify very large amounts of something, often in contexts related to production, waste, or environmental impact. For example, "The factory produces "millions of tons" of plastic each year".

What are some alternatives to saying "millions of tons"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "billions of tons", "hundreds of thousands of tons", "large quantities of", or "vast amounts of".

Is it more appropriate to say "millions of tons" or "millions of tonnes"?

Both "tons" and "tonnes" (metric tons) are units of mass. "Tons" usually refers to short tons (2,000 lbs) or long tons (2,240 lbs), primarily used in the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively, while "tonnes" refers to metric tons (1,000 kg or 2,204.6 lbs), commonly used internationally. Choose the unit that is appropriate for your audience and context.

How does using "millions of tons" impact the perception of scale?

Using "millions of tons" immediately conveys a sense of a very large quantity. It's effective for highlighting the magnitude of issues like industrial production, waste generation, or environmental pollution, helping readers grasp the scale of the issue.