multiple males over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "multiple males over" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to a situation involving several males, but the phrasing is awkward and lacks context. Example: "The study focused on multiple males over the age of 30 who participated in the survey."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

(Female flies typically mate with multiple males over a short time period).

Science Magazine

A single female may occupy the tree for up to a week, mating with multiple males over that time.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Queen bees perform mating flights soon after emerging to collect and store sperm from multiple males, which is then used for reproduction over the queen's lifetime.

The Guardian

Within the group, the females were famously promiscuous around estrus, usually mating multiple times with multiple males and blithely defying efforts by the alpha male or other high-ranker to guard them and keep other males at bay.

The New York Times - Science

Sperm from multiple males may compete through this mechanism.

Wikipedia

It is normally the dominant male who roars when there are multiple males in the group.

Wikipedia

Females mate with multiple males [33].

Plosone

Social mating systems were classified as: monogamous (SM): one male, one female; polygynous (SP): one male, multiple females; multi-male (MM): multiple males, one or multiple females (after [38]).

Plosone

Whereas in Barbary macaques females mate with multiple males and monopolisation of females plays a minor role (Brauch et al. 2008), male monopolisation prevails over mating with multiple males in yellow baboons (Alberts et al. 2006).

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

This is different for winged males, because 24 of 53 (45.3%) colonies in which they were produced contained multiple males (in six colonies one ergatoid and one winged male each, in two colonies one ergatoid and two winged males, in 16 colonies two to five winged males; averaged over all 53 colonies 1.45 ± 0.69 males).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

To determine to what extent females actively sought out multiple males, we looked at how often females were responsible for initiating their consortships and how they distributed their initiations over males of different dominance rank or age.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reframe your sentence to specify the context clearly. Instead of using the ambiguous phrase "multiple males over", clarify what the 'over' refers to. For example, "multiple males over the age of 50" or "multiple males over the specified limit".

Common error

Avoid using "multiple males over" without a clear reference point. This phrase is vague and can confuse readers. Always specify what the 'over' refers to, whether it's age, a certain number, or a specific threshold.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "multiple males over" functions as a noun phrase that requires further context to convey a complete meaning. According to Ludwig, the phrase is not entirely correct without additional information to clarify what "over" refers to.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

59%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "multiple males over" is grammatically questionable and requires additional context to be meaningful. Ludwig indicates that the phrase, on its own, is not correct. Usage is infrequent, primarily appearing in scientific and news-related sources. When using this phrase, specify what the 'over' refers to to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "several males exceeding" or "numerous males above" may offer improved clarity. The expert rating reflects the phrase's grammatical awkwardness and the necessity for contextual clarification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

multiple males surpassing

Replaces only 'over' with 'surpassing'.

several males exceeding

Replaces 'multiple' with 'several' and 'over' with 'exceeding', focusing on a count beyond a certain limit.

numerous males above

Uses 'numerous' instead of 'multiple' and 'above' instead of 'over', indicating a quantity surpassing a specific level.

many males surpassing

Substitutes 'multiple' with 'many' and 'over' with 'surpassing', emphasizing exceeding a certain quantity or standard.

multiple males exceeding the limit of

Focuses on going over a limited amount of males.

multiple males beyond the threshold of

Focuses on going over a particular point of number of males.

a number of males exceeding

Emphasizes a specific count of males that go over a threshold.

various males beyond

Replaces 'multiple' with 'various' and 'over' with 'beyond', suggesting variety surpassing a boundary.

several males above the age of

Specifies age as the threshold being exceeded.

more than one male

Simplifies the phrase to indicate the presence of at least two males.

FAQs

How can I use "multiple males" in a sentence correctly?

To use "multiple males" correctly, ensure the context is clear. For example, "The study focused on "multiple males" within the primate group" or "Multiple males competed for dominance within the pack".

What is a better way to phrase "multiple males over"?

Instead of "multiple males over", consider using more specific phrases like "several males exceeding" or "numerous males above" to improve clarity.

Is it grammatically correct to say "multiple males over"?

The phrase "multiple males over" is grammatically awkward and requires further context to be meaningful. It's better to specify what 'over' refers to, such as age or a specific limit. Use alternatives like "multiple males above the age of".

What does "multiple males over" imply?

The phrase "multiple males over" implies a quantity of males surpassing a certain unspecified threshold or characteristic. To be clear, specify what the threshold is, such as "multiple males over a certain age".