telling number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "telling number" is not correct and does not have a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may confuse readers due to its ambiguity. Example: "The telling number of participants in the survey was surprisingly low, indicating a lack of interest."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

(There's another telling number: five question marks).

The New Yorker

City officials expressed skepticism that a telling number of the drivers of the city's 13,180 medallion taxis would participate in the work stoppage, scheduled to start at 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

The New York Times

The telling number for Federer coming into this quarter-final was 395: the minutes he had spent in winning four matches, without dropping a set and with all the effortless grace he has brought to these courts since his teenaged debut in 1999, when he lost to Jiri Novak in five sets in the first round.

The Guardian - Sport

Late in a day marked by frequent verbal exchanges between the two teams in the middle, television stump microphones picked up Australia captain Michael Clarke telling number 11 batsman James Anderson to "get ready for a broken arm" as he faced rampant pace bowler Mitchell Johnson.

BBC

That's another telling number, suggesting both the revelations and the limitations of chronology.

Los Angeles Times

Arguably, both revolutions have achieved their greatest successes in educating the populace — to the point where a telling number of their citizens want to leave.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Here are more telling numbers regarding those two months.

The New York Times

Here are some telling numbers.

Biology Direct

"This election more than ever we're being told numbers are tight," she added.

BBC

Today the North Carolina hog herd, all told, numbers around 9 10 million animals annually, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Environmental Health Perspectives

But the growth in absolute numbers disguises more telling numbers.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more precise and widely accepted alternatives like "significant figure" or "indicative number" to enhance clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "telling number" is universally understood. Overusing uncommon expressions can confuse readers, diluting your message's impact. Instead, prioritize clarity using common alternatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "telling number" functions as a noun phrase, where "telling" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "number". It aims to highlight that a particular number is informative or revealing, though Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is not entirely correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "telling number" is used to describe a number that reveals something important or significant. However, Ludwig AI suggests that the expression is not grammatically correct and can be ambiguous. While examples exist across diverse sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, it is less frequent and may cause confusion. Alternatives such as "significant figure", "key indicator", or "revealing statistic" are generally preferred for clarity and wider acceptance. When writing, consider substituting "telling number" with these alternatives to ensure more effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indicative figure

Replaces "number" with "figure", implying a precise numerical value that is revealing.

revealing statistic

Substitutes "telling" with "revealing" and "number" with "statistic", focusing on data.

significant data point

Replaces "telling" with "significant", highlighting the importance of the data.

noteworthy metric

Emphasizes the importance of the metric as being deserving of attention.

key indicator

Highlights the role of the number as a sign or measure.

crucial measurement

Focuses on the essential nature of the measurement conveyed by the number.

important numerical value

Directly states the significance of the number's value.

critical figure

Highlights the decisive importance of the figure.

informative count

Focuses on the information provided by the act of counting something.

meaningful amount

Emphasizes the quantity's significance.

FAQs

What does "telling number" mean?

While not a standard phrase, "telling number" is used to describe a number that reveals significant information or insights. Alternatives like "indicative figure" or "revealing statistic" are clearer.

How can I use "telling number" in a sentence?

It's better to avoid using "telling number" due to its ambiguity. Instead, opt for phrases like "the "significant data point"" or "the "key indicator"" to convey the number's importance.

Which is correct, "telling number" or "significant figure"?

"Significant figure" is the more grammatically correct and widely accepted phrase. "Telling number" is not a standard expression and may confuse readers. When referring to a number, consider using "significant data point" or "noteworthy metric".

What are some alternatives to "telling number"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "indicative figure", "revealing statistic", or "significant data point". These options are generally clearer and more commonly understood.