number of dozen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "number of dozen" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when referring to a quantity measured in dozens, but the correct expression would be "number of dozens." Example: "The number of dozens of eggs we need for the event is twelve."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But then there came a day when the number of dozen available was twenty-two, and my place in line was twenty, but when I got to the head of the line there were no more eggs.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The booklet, which is classified "in confidence", also lists phone numbers of dozens of senior US and Australian military and civilian staff.

Independent

Mr. Harold even remembers, as if they were the names of his children, the identification numbers of dozens of the old subway cars that spent decades on the rails.

The New York Times

As the day progressed, the identities of a growing number of the dozen killed either inside the movie theatre or who died later in hospital began to circulated to the media.

The Guardian

But the 1.3-mile-wide tornado that struck Plaza Towers on Monday stunned Oklahomans, in both its size and the number of victims, dozens of whom were students who were killed or injured.

The New York Times

One unintended consequence is the growing number of people — dozens a year — who die from carbon monoxide poisoning because they ran their portable generators in enclosed spaces without enough ventilation for the exhaust.

The New York Times

Anyone they contacted had the numbers of a dozen other FFA supporters.

The Guardian - Business

In late September, Ms. Flowers, of the Motley Rice law firm, sent Mr. Holder phone numbers of two dozen relatives of victims and asked that Scotland Yard run them through the 12,000 pages of documents seized from the home of Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator responsible for most of the hacking by the now-shuttered News of the World.

The New York Times

Maybe you have a spreadsheet about an upcoming event with the phone numbers of a dozen friends and want to text them all a reminder?

TechCrunch

Ms. Diaz's supporters, far smaller than the raucous rally on the courthouse steps, numbered a couple of dozen, including her mother, sister and girlfriend.

The New York Times

The first thing you notice, though, is the unusual number of firearms: several dozen of them.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to multiple sets of twelve, always use "number of dozens" instead of "number of dozen" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "dozen" in the singular form when referring to multiple groups of twelve. Always pluralize it to "dozens" to maintain grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "number of dozen" functions as a noun phrase intended to quantify a measurement. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically incorrect and the correct form is "number of dozens".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "number of dozen" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The proper form is "number of dozens", which accurately quantifies multiple sets of twelve. The intended purpose is to express a numerical quantity, and the register is generally neutral, with usage across news, media, scientific and encyclopedic contexts. When writing, it's important to use "number of dozens" to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

number of dozens

This corrects the grammatical structure to properly reflect a count of multiple dozens.

quantity of dozens

This alternative uses "quantity" to refer to a number of dozens, shifting the focus from a mere count to an amount.

count of dozens

Replacing "number" with "count" provides a direct synonym suitable in contexts where a tally is being discussed.

several dozens

Uses "several" to indicate more than two but not a large number of dozens.

multiple dozens

Emphasizes that there is more than one dozen.

a few dozen

Indicates a small quantity, focusing on approximation rather than exact number of dozens.

some dozens

Uses 'some' to denote an unspecified quantity of dozens.

a certain number of dozens

This alternative specifies there is a particular, though unstated, count of dozens.

a specific number of dozens

Highlights that the quantity is exact, though perhaps not explicitly mentioned.

dozens in number

Inverts the phrasing to emphasize the plural nature of "dozens".

FAQs

How do I properly use the phrase "number of dozens" in a sentence?

Ensure that you're referring to multiple sets of twelve. For example, "The "number of dozens" of eggs needed for the bakery is five" is correct.

What's the difference between "number of dozen" and "number of dozens"?

"Number of dozen" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is ""number of dozens"", which refers to a count of multiple sets of twelve.

Can I use "quantity of dozen" instead of "number of dozen"?

No, "quantity of dozen" is not grammatically correct. You can use "quantity of dozens" as a substitute for "number of dozens".

Is it appropriate to use "number of dozens" in formal writing?

Yes, using ""number of dozens"" is appropriate in formal writing when accurately describing a count of multiple dozens.