such a crowd

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "such a crowd" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express surprise or emphasis about the number of people present in a particular place or event. Example: "When we arrived at the concert, I couldn't believe such a crowd had gathered outside the venue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Would Three Be Such a Crowd?

The New York Times

Not in such a crowd.

The Guardian

I've never seen such a crowd.

The New York Times

You don't see such a crowd in women's doubles normally".

The Guardian - Sport

No one had ever seen such a crowd.

The New York Times

"I asked the mayor if he'd ever seen such a crowd.

The New Yorker

Even in such a crowd, there were memories of celebrity sightings.

The New York Times

The devotions of such a crowd are a powerful message of faith and solidarity.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The inaugural festival took place a year ago and proved such a crowd-pleaser with its twisted and brilliant one-act stage plays (which included a fabulous staged version of the LeGuin story) that Bottrell, along with veteran theatre producers Lee Costello and Michael Blaha, created the second annual celebration of all things sci-fi.

Huffington Post

Perhaps that's why "Noises Off" is such a crowd-pleaser, frequently revived and frequently beloved.

The New Yorker

It's no coincidence that Edward Steichen's 1955 show "The Family of Man" was such a crowd-pleaser.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "such a crowd" to emphasize the unexpected size or impressiveness of a gathering. It adds a sense of wonder or surprise to your writing.

Common error

While "such a crowd" is a valid phrase, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "a large gathering" or "a multitude of people" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "such a crowd" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It describes and emphasizes the size or magnitude of a crowd. This is reinforced by Ludwig, where the phrase is often used in contexts highlighting large gatherings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "such a crowd" is a phrase used to emphasize the size or unexpected nature of a gathering. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across various contexts, especially in news and media. While versatile, be mindful of overuse and consider alternatives like "a large gathering" to enhance writing style. The phrase serves to convey surprise or a strong impression regarding the number of people present. It's generally appropriate for neutral and informal registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large gathering

This alternative focuses on the act of people coming together in large numbers.

a huge throng

This alternative uses a slightly more dramatic word for a large, densely packed crowd.

a massive assembly

This emphasizes the scale and formality of the gathering.

a sea of faces

This uses a metaphor to describe a large crowd, focusing on the visual aspect.

a multitude of people

This is a more formal way of saying "a lot of people".

throngs of individuals

This alternative is a more formal way to describe a densely packed group of people.

hordes of people

This alternative implies a large, possibly unruly, group of people.

swarms of people

This alternative likens a crowd to a swarm, suggesting a lack of order.

a sea of humanity

This alternative emphasizes the collective nature of the crowd, implying a shared identity or purpose.

the masses

This term refers to the general population, particularly when considered as a large, undifferentiated group.

FAQs

How can I use "such a crowd" in a sentence?

You can use "such a crowd" to describe a large gathering of people, as in "I've never seen "such a crowd" at this event before".

What's a more formal alternative to "such a crowd"?

Alternatives such as "a large assembly" or "a multitude of attendees" can be used in more formal contexts.

Is it correct to say "so a crowd" instead of "such a crowd"?

While "so" can be used as an intensifier, "such a crowd" is the more grammatically correct and widely accepted phrase for describing a large group of people.

How does "such a crowd" differ from "a big crowd"?

"Such a crowd" often implies a sense of surprise or emphasis on the size of the gathering, whereas "a big crowd" is a more neutral description. "Such" conveys a stronger sense of magnitude than "big".