really a lot of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "really a lot of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the amount or extent of something. For example, "I have really a lot of homework to do tonight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

That's really a lot of profound sadness.

The New York Times - Books

That was really a lot of fun.

The New Yorker

And there are really a lot of methods.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

So it's really a lot of unfair scrutiny".

The New Yorker

Really a lot of people had a role.

The New York Times

But it was really a lot of pleasure.

The Guardian - Sport

"This is really a lot of work," said Kansa of wrangling data sets into order.

Harvard University

And there's not really a lot of speed bumps along the way.

Stanford University

Really, a lot of the doom is emanating from the subway.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Really, a lot of it may be that manners are just not considered cool".

The New York Times - Style

"There are really a lot of different types of evidence," Hoorn says.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "really a lot of" to add emphasis when describing quantities or degrees, particularly in informal contexts. For example, "There's "really a lot of" excitement in the air."

Common error

Avoid using "really a lot of" in formal academic or professional writing. Opt for more precise and sophisticated alternatives such as "a significant amount of" or "a considerable quantity of" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "really a lot of" primarily functions as an intensifier, modifying nouns to emphasize a substantial quantity or degree. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Examples show it quantifying sadness, fun, methods, and scrutiny.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "really a lot of" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize a large quantity or degree of something, as validated by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, particularly news, academic, and general media. While perfectly acceptable in informal settings, it's advisable to use more formal alternatives in professional writing. When writing, remember that while the phrase is not wrong, overusing "really a lot of" in formal academic or professional writing may come across as unsophisticated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a great deal of

Formal alternative, implying a substantial amount or degree.

a considerable amount of

Emphasizes the significance of the amount.

quite a bit of

Slightly less intense, suitable for informal contexts.

a large quantity of

More formal and specific, indicating a measurable amount.

significantly much

Emphasizes the magnitude of quantity.

an abundance of

Highlights the plentiful nature of something.

substantially much

Similar to significantly much, but implies the existence of a strong and factual evidence.

tons of

Informal, suggesting a very large quantity.

loads of

Informal, similar to "tons of" but with a slightly different connotation.

a plethora of

Formal and somewhat exaggerated, suggesting an excessive amount.

FAQs

What does "really a lot of" mean?

The phrase "really a lot of" is used to emphasize that there is a large quantity or high degree of something. It's a way to intensify the amount being described.

How can I use "really a lot of" in a sentence?

You can use "really a lot of" before a noun to indicate a large quantity. For example, "I have "really a lot of" work to do," or "There are "really a lot of" people at the party."

Are there formal alternatives to "really a lot of"?

Yes, in formal contexts, you can use phrases like "a great deal of", "a large quantity of", or "a considerable amount of".

Is "really a lot of" grammatically correct?

Yes, "really a lot of" is grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in spoken English and informal writing. Ludwig AI also confirms its validity.