tens of thousands

USAGE SUMMARY

"tens of thousands" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an expression used to discuss large numbers of items, usually things that can be counted. For example: "The organization distributed tens of thousands of medical supplies to hospitals in need."

✓ Grammatically correct

General writing

News reporting

Academic research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Tens of thousands attended.

The Guardian

Tens of thousands listen online.

The Guardian

Tens of thousands saw it.

The New York Times - Books

Tens of thousands of annuals.

The Washington Post

Every year, influenza sickens millions, hospitalizes hundreds of thousands, and kills tens of thousands.

Harvard University

And thousands, tens of thousands 2, 3, 4, tens of thousands of genes.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Tens of millions?

The New York Times

All the suspect "discretionary" programs come to tens of billions, not hundreds of billions.

The Washington Post

"Is it tens of millions of dollars, tens of billions of dollars or tens of trillions of dollars?" he said.

The Washington Post

Investors lost tens of millions of dollars.

The New York Times

Tens of millions of homeowners were delighted.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tens of thousands", ensure the context provides a sense of scale. It suggests a large quantity, but not overwhelmingly large, implying a noticeable but manageable number.

Common error

Avoid using "tens of thousands" when a more precise number is available. If you know the number is closer to hundreds of thousands, use that instead to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tens of thousands" functions as a quantitative descriptor, specifying a numerical range. As shown in Ludwig, it's used to indicate a large number of items, people, or units without specifying an exact count. This expression provides a sense of scale in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Academia

28%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tens of thousands" is a versatile phrase used to describe a notable quantity, falling within the range of 10,000 to 99,999. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable across diverse contexts, particularly in news, academic, and general writing. While it conveys a significant scale, it's important to avoid overstating specificity when more precise figures are available. Common alternatives include "thousands upon thousands" or "a multitude". The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, highlighting its utility in conveying scale in reporting and analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thousands upon thousands

Emphasizes the sheer volume by repeating "thousands", creating a more dramatic effect.

substantial numbers

Highlights the size and importance of the numbers, suitable for formal or analytical contexts.

myriads

Uses a single word to imply a very large, indefinite number, similar to but more poetic than "tens of thousands".

a multitude

Implies a large and often disorganized group or collection, similar in scale but with a different connotation.

a great number

A more general phrase indicating a large quantity, less specific than "tens of thousands".

a considerable quantity

Emphasizes the significance of the quantity rather than the precise number.

numerous individuals

Specifically refers to people, highlighting their individual presence in a large group; shifts the focus from the overall number to the people involved.

a large contingent

Often refers to a group of people representing a larger body, used in more formal contexts.

innumerable instances

Focuses on the frequency of occurrences, suggesting they are too many to count accurately.

countless examples

Similar to "innumerable instances", emphasizes the inability to count the examples due to their vast number.

FAQs

How can I use "tens of thousands" in a sentence?

"Tens of thousands" typically describes a quantity or number, as in "Tens of thousands of people attended the event" or "The company produced "tens of thousands of units" this year."

What's a good alternative to "tens of thousands"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "thousands upon thousands", "a great number", or "a multitude" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "tens of thousands" in formal writing?

Yes, "tens of thousands" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a clear and professional way to express a quantity without being overly precise. However, if exact figures are known, they should be used instead.

What's the difference between "tens of thousands" and "hundreds of thousands"?

"Tens of thousands" refers to a quantity between 10,000 and 99,999. "Hundreds of thousands", on the other hand, refers to a quantity between 100,000 and 999,999. The key difference is the order of magnitude.