one billion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "one billion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a countable number, for example, "The estimated worldwide population is over one billion people."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

On page one billion of his novel.

The New Yorker

One billion Scrabble boards?

The Guardian - Sport

Facebook Buys Instagram for One Billion Dollars.

The New York Times

She has one billion constituents.

The Guardian - Opinion

Durham marks One Billion Rising.

The Guardian

"India is one billion people.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The assorted subcorpus of BCC has about one billion words.

Lingua Sinica

Twenty-one billion, eight hundred million dollars.

The New York Times - Magazine

(One billion could fit on a pinhead).

Science Magazine

Bidding starts at one billion dollars.

The New Yorker

We have more than one billion people".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use numerals for "one billion" in formal writing or when emphasizing the exact amount; otherwise, spell it out.

Common error

Ensure you are using "one billion" correctly and not mistaking it for "one million" or "one trillion". Proofread carefully, especially when dealing with financial or statistical data.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one billion" functions primarily as a quantifier, specifying a numerical amount. Ludwig's examples show it modifying nouns to indicate quantity, such as "one billion people" or "one billion dollars". According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and commonly usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "one billion" is a numerical term used to quantify a very large amount, specifically 1,000,000,000. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used in written English, primarily within news, scientific, and formal business contexts. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its application across various domains, from discussing population statistics to detailing financial figures. When using "one billion", ensure clarity by specifying the units (e.g., dollars, people) and avoid confusing it with other similar large numbers like "one million" or "one trillion".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a thousand million

Uses an alternative numerical expression for the same quantity.

1,000,000,000

Represents the number in numerical format.

a massive number

Indicates a very large quantity without specifying the exact amount.

an enormous quantity

Highlights the size of the quantity, but lacks precision.

a substantial amount

Emphasizes the largeness of the amount, without being specific.

a considerable number

Suggests a noteworthy quantity, but doesn't define its scale.

a huge amount

Indicates a large amount in a more informal way.

billions

Refers to multiple billions, more than one billion.

incalculable amount

Indicates an amount so large it's impossible to count.

astronomical figure

Implies an extremely high number, often used metaphorically.

FAQs

How do you write "one billion" in numerical form?

"One billion" is written as 1,000,000,000.

What's the difference between "one billion" and "one trillion"?

"One billion" is 1,000,000,000 while "one trillion" is 1,000,000,000,000. A trillion is a thousand times larger than a billion.

Can I use "a billion" instead of "one billion"?

Yes, "a billion" is generally acceptable and means the same as "one billion". The choice often depends on the context and desired level of formality.

What are some situations where I might use the phrase "one billion"?

The phrase "one billion" is often used when discussing population statistics, financial figures, scientific data, and large-scale projects. For example, "The company's valuation reached "one billion" dollars".