not as many

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not as many" is grammatically correct.
It can be used in any written English context where an amount or quantity needs to be compared. For example: "We had fewer students in this class than in the previous year, not as many as we had hoped."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Not as many as most".

The New York Times - Magazine

Not as many as wanted to, anyway.

The New Yorker

"Now, not as many people do".

The New York Times - Arts

Maybe not as many.

The New York Times - Arts

Not as many do.

The Guardian - Music

And not as many people take it.

Cornell University

There are not as many lapses".

The New York Times - Sports

Not as many as in Europe.

The Guardian - Sport

Not as many as he once had.

The New York Times

Not as many as John McCain".

The New York Times

Not as many as they'd hoped".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not as many" when comparing countable items. For uncountable items, use "not as much".

Common error

Avoid using "not as much" when referring to countable nouns. "Not as many" is appropriate for countable nouns like people, books, or cars. For example, say "There are not as many cars on the road today" instead of "There is not as much cars on the road today".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not as many" functions as a comparative quantifier, indicating a smaller quantity of countable items compared to an expected or previously mentioned amount. This is confirmed by Ludwig's examples which demonstrates usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

13%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not as many" is a grammatically correct and very common comparative quantifier used to indicate a smaller quantity of countable items. Ludwig AI confirms its broad applicability. It's suitable for various contexts, from news and media to academic writing, with a generally neutral register. When using this phrase, remember to reserve it for countable items and use "not as much" for uncountable ones. Alternative phrases like "fewer" or "a smaller number of" can provide concise substitutes depending on your writing style. Common mistakes involve misusing "much" with countable nouns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer

A more concise way to indicate a smaller quantity.

not nearly as many

Emphasizes a significant difference in quantity.

not as much as

Draws a direct comparison to a specific reference point.

a smaller number of

Emphasizes the numerical aspect of the comparison.

less numerous

Highlights the reduced count or abundance.

not so much

Focuses on a reduced amount or degree rather than a specific quantity.

a reduced quantity of

More formal and emphasizes the amount.

a lower proportion of

Focuses on the relative amount compared to a whole.

a scarcity of

Highlights the lack or limited availability.

in short supply

Suggests limited availability or a deficit.

FAQs

How do I use "not as many" in a sentence?

Use "not as many" to compare quantities. For instance, "I invited ten people, but "not as many" showed up" indicates that fewer than ten people attended.

What's the difference between "not as many" and "not as much"?

"Not as many" is for countable nouns (e.g., "not as many cars"), while "not as much" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., "not as much water").

What can I say instead of "not as many"?

You can use alternatives like "fewer", "a smaller number of", or "less numerous" depending on the context.

Is "not as many" formal or informal?

"Not as many" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than the phrase itself.