significant number of

USAGE SUMMARY

"significant number of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a large but unspecified quantity of something. For example: "A significant number of people attended the concert last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A significant number of people react negatively.

The Guardian - Opinion

A significant number of the protesters could be city employees.

The New York Times

But a significant number of the coaches are.

The New York Times - Sports

Still, the review enraged a significant number of people.

The Guardian - Opinion

But he's missed a significant number of games already.

The New York Times - Sports

Molenbeek would have supplied a significant number of them.

The Guardian

A significant number of prisoners suffer from a psychotic disorders.

The Guardian - Opinion

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

The Guardian

"Obviously there are a significant number of legal consequences.

The Guardian

A significant number of claims are overturned on review.

The Guardian

A significant number of his students are women.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significant number of", ensure the context makes it clear what is being counted. For example, specify "significant number of students" rather than just "significant number".

Common error

Avoid using "significant number of" when the quantity is not genuinely noteworthy. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant number of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a quantity that is noteworthy or important. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is grammatically sound and its usage is widespread.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

9%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significant number of" is a grammatically correct and very commonly used phrase to denote a noteworthy quantity. Ludwig AI affirms its validity, and numerous examples show its prevalence across news, academic, and encyclopedic contexts. While alternatives like "sizeable amount of" or "considerable quantity of" exist, it's crucial to ensure the context warrants the emphasis on significance and be specific with the counted noun.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sizeable amount of

Changes the noun to "amount", implying a focus on continuous quantity rather than discrete items.

considerable quantity of

Replaces "number" with "quantity", emphasizing the amount and adding a formal tone.

substantial proportion of

Uses "proportion" instead of "number", focusing on the ratio relative to a whole.

large fraction of

Emphasizes a part of a whole, suggesting a notable segment.

appreciable quantity of

Similar to "significant amount", but may imply the quantity is easier to perceive.

notable amount of

Focuses on the fact that a number is worth of attention.

remarkable quantity of

Similar to "significant amount", but may imply the quantity is unexpected.

plenty of

Implies that the amount is more than sufficient.

a good deal of

More informal, suggesting a considerable but not overwhelming amount.

numerous instances of

Focuses on specific occurrences rather than an overall quantity.

FAQs

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

Use "significant number of" to indicate a quantity that is large enough to be important or noteworthy. For example: "A "significant number of" voters supported the new policy".

What are some alternatives to "significant number of"?

You can use alternatives like "sizeable amount of", "considerable quantity of", or "substantial proportion of" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "significant number" or "large number"?

"Significant number" implies the quantity is important or meaningful, while "large number" simply indicates a big quantity. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the importance or just the size.

What's the difference between "significant number of" and "a majority of"?

"Significant number of" indicates a noteworthy quantity without specifying the proportion, while "a majority of" implies more than half of the total. For example: "A "significant number of" people attended" doesn't tell us if it was more than half, but "a majority of people attended" does.