number of places

USAGE SUMMARY

"number of places" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it any time you need to refer to the quantity of items, locations, or events. For example, "The number of places we need to visit on our trip is quite daunting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Number of places: up to 100.

The Guardian

The number of places is limited.

Columbia University

Our flat flooded in a number of places.

The Guardian

There are a number of places I am homesick for.

The New Yorker

We have a limited number of places available for readers.

The Guardian

We're going to narrow the number of places we visit".

The New York Times - Sports

They looked at a number of places in Westchester.

The New York Times

Mentions a number of places where Marchi stopped.

The New Yorker

Tells about their visits to a number of places.

The New Yorker

The number of places must be a non-negative integer.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The elephants are sourced from a number of places.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing limited availability, specify the exact "number of places" whenever possible to provide clarity. For instance, instead of saying "a limited number of places are available", state "only 10 places are available".

Common error

Avoid using "a number of places" without context if precision is needed. While grammatically correct, it's often better to be specific (e.g., "three locations" or "several sites") for enhanced clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "number of places" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It quantifies the existence of multiple locations, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples where it references both physical locations and abstract positions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "number of places" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate the quantity of locations. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage across diverse fields such as news, academia, and science. While versatile, it's often advisable to provide specific numerical values for enhanced clarity. Alternatives like "quantity of locations" or "amount of sites" can be employed for variety, yet "number of places" remains a reliable and neutral choice in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quantity of locations

Replaces "number" with "quantity" and "places" with "locations", emphasizing the amount of locations.

amount of sites

Substitutes "number" with "amount" and "places" with "sites", altering the specific terms while retaining the core meaning.

count of destinations

Substitutes "number" with "count" and "places" with "destinations", emphasizing the final points of travel.

range of spots

Uses "range" instead of "number" and "spots" in place of "places", focusing on the diversity of spots.

multitude of spots

Substitutes "number" with "multitude" and "places" with "spots", highlighting a large quantity of spots.

extent of areas

Replaces "number" with "extent" and "places" with "areas", shifting the focus to the coverage of areas.

proliferation of locations

Replaces "number" with "proliferation", indicating a rapid increase in the locations.

scope of venues

Uses "scope" instead of "number" and "venues" in place of "places", focusing on the breadth of venues.

diversity of sites

Replaces "number" with "diversity", emphasizing the variety among the sites.

incidence of locations

Uses "incidence" instead of "number", focusing on the rate at which locations occur.

FAQs

How can I use "number of places" in a sentence?

You can use "number of places" to refer to a quantity of locations or positions, such as "The "number of places" we visited on vacation was astounding" or "The "number of places" offering wireless internet is growing".

What are some alternatives to "number of places"?

Alternatives to "number of places" include "quantity of locations", "amount of sites", or "range of spots" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a number of places" or specify a numerical value?

While "a number of places" is grammatically correct, using a specific number (e.g., "three places", "ten locations") provides more clarity and precision, especially when providing instructions or specific details.

How does the context affect the choice of using "number of places"?

The context determines whether a general or specific term is more suitable. In casual conversation, "a number of places" might suffice. In formal reports or instructions, it's often preferable to be more specific about the quantity and the types of locations/sites involved.