mountain of information

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mountain of information" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an idiomatic phrase that is used to describe a large volume of information, which can range from knowledge to data. For example, you could say: "I searched the internet for hours, but there was still a mountain of information that I hadn't been able to find."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

We should take a step back and look at the total that's available, because there's a mountain of information about us".

The Guardian - Tech

The producers have accumulated a mountain of information, archival clips and filmed interviews with witnesses and experts, and fashioned it into a compelling narrative.

The New York Times - Arts

This study provides yet more evidence to the growing mountain of information that the Cape parrot is indeed, a distinct species.

The Guardian

A medical officer for the Food and Drug Administration gave a detailed account of the agency's analyses of the mountain of information that Merck submitted on Vioxx.

The New York Times

"Good and thoughtful people have considered and debated the issues facing intercollegiate athletics today," he said, referring to what he called a great store of accumulated wisdom and a mountain of information with which he needs to become acquainted.

The New York Times - Sports

The lengthy case, which included witnesses of various backgrounds — from nurses who cleaned Mrs. Astor's bedpan to a former White House cabinet official — left jurors with a mountain of information to consider.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Digitized fingerprints, pictures of suspects and even scans of passport stamps can be searched by computers, using software designed to sift quickly through mountains of information, he said.

The New York Times

How paranoid and self-defeating it is when analysts have to wade through mountains of information that smears unorthodox political opinions when real threats to security exist.

The Guardian - Opinion

Now, to an ever greater extent, researchers work with immense collections of digital data, and the mastery of such mountains of information depends on computing power.

The New York Times - Science

The market is thriving as companies struggle to find timely and useful nuggets of intelligence in the mountains of information stored not only in structured corporate databases, but increasingly in reports, e-mail archives, Web pages, video clips and podcasts.

The New York Times - Tech

Having spent many years trolling roisterous online forums, however, she had developed that essential Internet tool: what might be called a personal baby/bathwater algorithm that helps people to sift through mountains of information to find what is relevant.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "mountain of information", ensure that the context clearly indicates the information is abundant and potentially overwhelming. Consider alternatives like "abundance of data" or "wealth of knowledge" if a less dramatic tone is desired.

Common error

Avoid using "mountain of information" when the amount of information is significant but manageable. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic. Instead, consider using alternatives like "substantial amount of information" or "significant data set".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mountain of information" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as a direct object, subject complement, or object of a preposition, describing a large quantity of data or knowledge. Ludwig confirms its appropriate usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mountain of information" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression, as affirmed by Ludwig. It describes a large quantity of data or knowledge, often implying a sense of overwhelm or difficulty in processing. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, this phrase serves to emphasize magnitude. While "mountain of information" is acceptable for formal writing, consider neutral alternatives like "extensive data" in order to avoid using hyperbolic language. Remember that Ludwig provides many contextual examples to assist in your use of the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abundance of data

Focuses on the sheer quantity of data, emphasizing the plentiful aspect.

wealth of knowledge

Highlights the valuable and insightful nature of the information.

extensive data

Emphasizes the comprehensive and thorough nature of the data collection.

vast amount of data

Stresses the large volume of data available.

cornucopia of facts

Suggests a rich and overflowing source of factual information, often implying variety.

plethora of details

Highlights the excessive nature of available details, potentially implying complexity or overwhelm.

sea of data

Uses a different metaphor to convey a large and potentially overwhelming quantity of data.

immense collection of data

Focuses on the size of collected data.

large body of knowledge

Emphasizes the collective and structured aspect of knowledge.

massive trove of data

Implies that the data is valuable and has been accumulated or discovered.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "mountain of information" in a sentence?

Use "mountain of information" to describe situations where a large quantity of data or knowledge is available, often implying that it is difficult to process or navigate. For example, "The researcher was faced with a "mountain of information" after the experiment concluded."

What are some alternatives to "mountain of information"?

You can use alternatives like "abundance of data", "wealth of knowledge", or "vast amount of data" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "mountain of information" in formal writing?

Yes, "mountain of information" is acceptable in formal writing, particularly when emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the data. However, consider alternatives like "extensive data" or "large body of knowledge" if a more neutral tone is preferred.

What's the difference between "mountain of information" and "sea of data"?

"Mountain of information" implies a large, imposing quantity of information, often suggesting a challenge in scaling or navigating it. "Sea of data", on the other hand, suggests a vast and potentially overwhelming expanse, emphasizing the difficulty in finding specific pieces of information.