number of

USAGE SUMMARY

"number of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a quantity of something. For example: "The number of students in the class has increased significantly since last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's number of eyeballs.

The New Yorker

Gives number of employees.

The New Yorker

remarkable number of milestones.

The New York Times - Arts

Number of units: one.

The New York Times

"A number of things.

The New York Times - Sports

Insane number of movements".

The New Yorker

Number of registered users?

The Economist

A number of reasons.

The New York Times

number of subject and verb.

The New York Times

Number of times read: Four.

The New York Times

The number of facets varies.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "number of", ensure the noun that follows is plural. For example, "the number of students" is correct, while "the number of student" is incorrect.

Common error

Avoid using a singular verb after "the number of". Even though "number" is singular, it refers to a collection. Therefore, use a plural verb when the subject is "a number of". For instance, "A number of students are attending" is correct, not "is attending".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "number of" primarily functions as a determiner or quantifier. Ludwig examples show its usage in specifying quantities, such as "number of stations" or "number of films". Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in referring to a quantity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

27%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "number of" is a versatile and frequently used quantifier in the English language. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage for indicating quantity. It functions primarily as a determiner, commonly found in neutral to formal contexts, especially within news, wiki, and business communications. Common errors include incorrect verb agreement, which can be easily avoided by ensuring the verb agrees with "number" (singular) or “a number” (plural). Alternatives like "quantity of" or "amount of" offer nuanced ways to express similar meanings, but "number of" is frequently preferred for countable nouns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quantity of

Emphasizes the amount or extent, rather than a specific count.

amount of

Focuses on the total or aggregate, often used with uncountable nouns.

count of

Highlights the act of counting or enumeration.

total of

Indicates the sum or aggregate of items.

sum of

Similar to 'total of', but often used in mathematical or abstract contexts.

frequency of

Refers to how often something occurs, rather than a specific quantity.

proportion of

Indicates a part, share, or percentage of a whole.

incidence of

Focuses on the occurrence or rate of something, often in statistical or medical contexts.

range of

Highlights the scope or variety of something, rather than a specific number.

multitude of

Emphasizes a large quantity or great number.

FAQs

How do I use "number of" in a sentence?

The phrase "number of" is used to indicate a quantity or count of something. For example, "The "number of students" attending the lecture was higher than expected."

What's the difference between "number of" and "amount of"?

"Number of" is used with countable nouns (e.g., "number of books"), while "amount of" is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., "amount of water").

What are some alternatives to "number of"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "quantity of", "amount of", "count of", or "total of".

Is it correct to say "the number of people are"?

No, it should be "the number of people is" because "the number" is singular. However, it's correct to say "a number of people are" because "a number" functions as plural.