number of staff

USAGE SUMMARY

"number of staff" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to the quantity of staff present in a company, organization, or other group. For example: "We've increased the number of staff working on the project to ensure that it's completed on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The workload far exceeds the number of staff we have.

The Guardian - Opinion

By 1994 the total number of staff was 708.

The Guardian

Days later the company announced a number of staff layoffs.

The Guardian - Tech

"We still expect to deliver a significant number of staff".

The Guardian

NHS England's report says the "additional number of staff required has been calculated by increasing the number of staff at the weekend … in order to match weekdays".

The Guardian

The studies clearly demonstrate the need to represent the finite number of staff available for maintenance and repair activities.

Electric Power Systems Research

The number of staff hours required to recruit a participant varied by recruitment strategy.

Controlled Clinical Trials

Modern perioperative care is complex and involves a large number of staff from multiple disciplines.

Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology

I believe a number of staff knowingly falsified estimates of financial benefits to ensure case approval".

The Guardian

She says that it's the qualification of childcare staff, not the number of staff, that matters.

The Guardian - Opinion

And they cite a number of staff members for the lobby bragging about their power.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To ensure clarity, always specify the context when using the phrase "number of staff". For example, "the number of staff in the marketing department".

Common error

Avoid focusing solely on the quantity of "staff" without considering their qualifications, experience, or training. Effective staffing involves both sufficient numbers and adequate skill sets.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "number of staff" functions primarily as a noun phrase used to quantify the workforce in various contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound way to refer to the quantity of personnel.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "number of staff" is a grammatically correct and widely used way to refer to the quantity of personnel in an organization. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard phrase suitable for various professional and academic contexts. It's important to remember that while the "number of staff" is an important metric, it should not be considered in isolation from the "quality of staff". Keep in mind options to improve your writing using alternatives like "staff count" or "workforce size". Overall, "number of staff" is a reliable and clear phrase for professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

staff count

Replaces "number" with "count", providing a more concise alternative.

workforce size

Focuses on the overall size of the workforce instead of just the "number of staff".

staffing level

Emphasizes the level of staffing available or required.

personnel numbers

Uses "personnel" as a more formal synonym for "staff".

employee headcount

A common business term that refers to the total "number of employees".

staff complement

Refers to the full "number of staff" needed or available.

total staff

A simple and direct alternative, focusing on the entirety of the staff.

staffing numbers

A slight variation that emphasizes the "numbers" related to staffing.

available staff

Highlights the staff that are currently available or on duty.

staff resources

Focuses on "staff" as a resource, rather than just a numerical value.

FAQs

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

You can use "number of staff" to describe the quantity of employees. For example, "The company increased the "number of staff" to meet the growing demand".

What is a more formal way to say "number of staff"?

A more formal alternative to "number of staff" is "employee headcount", which is commonly used in business contexts.

Which is correct: "number of staff is" or "number of staff are"?

The correct usage is "the number of staff is" because "number" is singular. For example, "The number of staff is sufficient for the current workload."

What can I say instead of "the number of staff is low"?

Alternatives include "staffing levels are low", "there is a staff shortage", or "the "workforce size" is insufficient".