select a number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "select a number" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when asking someone to choose a specific number from a range or set of options. Example: "Please select a number between 1 and 10 for the lottery ticket."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Select a number at random, for instance, by rolling fair 10-sided dice.

University of California, Berkeley

Congress could essentially select a number for the over-all price of a congressional or Presidential campaign, and then force candidates to live within that number.

The New Yorker

Judges are going to select a number of the works for a one-night-only show at the Whitechapel gallery, who, like the Observer, are sponsoring the event.

The Guardian - Tech

A similar palette of options has been tabled for Monday, with the Speaker, John Bercow, due to select a number of them for votes.

The Guardian

The government is also attempting to select a number of new projects by the end of January bringing on new power generation, to be underwritten by taxpayers.

The Guardian

People in this group were more likely to select a number of responses compared with the group who had no difficulties.

Nature

2. As a group you will select a number of readings that you believe will help you answer your research question.

University of California, Berkeley

These models and theoretical criterion according to EC5 were used to select a number of dowels used for connection, joint's length and location.

Engineering Structures

In this paper, we select a number of tradeoffs between the powertrain design and the infrastructure design and calculate technical and financial effects.

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Well, maybe not an end, but a comfortable plateau from which we can select a number of decent names and then suggest a finalist to the President-elect and his family.

The New Yorker

Our model used the number of wells on each site to randomly select a number of leaks from Allen et al.'s distribution of sites in the corresponding cohort (Supplementary Table 2).

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing users, be clear about the range of numbers they can select from. For instance, "Select a number between 1 and 100" provides a specific boundary.

Common error

Avoid using "select a number" without specifying the purpose or context. Always clarify why a number is being selected to prevent confusion. For example, instead of saying "Select a number", say "Select a number to represent your team."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "select a number" functions as an imperative directing someone to choose a numerical value. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which show the phrase being used in instructions and guidelines across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "select a number" is a common and grammatically correct way to instruct someone to choose a numerical value. According to Ludwig, it is frequently used across various contexts, including science, news and media, and academic writing. While the phrase itself is neutral in tone, it's important to provide context and be clear about the range of numbers from which to choose. Common alternatives include "choose a number" and "pick a number". Keep in mind that the key to effective use of "select a number" lies in providing sufficient context and guidance to the user.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

choose a number

Simple synonym, replacing "select" with "choose" for a more informal tone.

pick a number

Replaces "select" with "pick", suggesting a more casual or random selection.

designate a number

More formal; emphasizes assigning or specifying a number for a particular purpose.

assign a number

Similar to "designate", focusing on the act of allotting a number.

opt for a number

Highlights the element of preference or decision in choosing a number.

specify a number

Indicates a precise or explicit selection of a number.

determine a number

Suggests a process of calculation or consideration to arrive at a number.

name a number

A simpler way to ask someone to state a number.

indicate a number

Focuses on showing or pointing out a specific number.

identify a number

Emphasizes finding or recognizing a particular number.

FAQs

How do I use "select a number" in a sentence?

You can use "select a number" when you want someone to choose a specific number from a range of options. For example, "Select a number between 1 and 20 for your lottery ticket.

What can I say instead of "select a number"?

You can use alternatives like "choose a number", "pick a number", or "designate a number" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "selecting a number"?

Yes, "selecting a number" is the gerund form of the phrase and is grammatically correct. For example, "Selecting a number at random ensures fairness."

What is the difference between "select a number" and "dial a number"?

"Select a number" generally means to choose a number from a set of options. "Dial a number" specifically refers to entering a phone number, typically on a phone or device.