the number was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the number was" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to introduce a numerical value, such as in the sentence, "The number was 22."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Last year the number was 3,134.

The Economist

The number was 1,626.

The Guardian

When that was defogged, the number was 2539 and her last barrier was down.

The New York Times

The number was 1,411 in the 2008 census.

Forbes

"One source inside the company said the number was 1,100, which is slightly higher than expected.

TechCrunch

Then in 2010 and 2011, the number was 1155 and 1296 respectively.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Now the number is 5,000.

The New York Times

This year, the number is 2,261.

The Washington Post

"You know what the number is today?

The New York Times

If you look across the industry, the number is 7,000.

Cornell University

It's license place is from Michigan and the number is CDY6122.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the number was", ensure the context clearly indicates what "number" refers to. For instance, specify "the number of applicants was 500" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "the number was" without a clear antecedent. If the context doesn't explicitly state what the number represents, the sentence becomes ambiguous and confusing for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the number was" primarily functions as a declarative statement introducing a numerical value. It often serves to present data or statistics, as demonstrated by examples from Ludwig and confirmed by Ludwig AI, which validates its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the number was" is a grammatically sound and functional phrase used to introduce specific numerical values. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for general use. Although not exceptionally common, it appears across diverse sources, including news outlets, scientific publications, and academic texts. Its usage is straightforward, but writers should ensure clarity by clearly defining what "the number" refers to. Alternatives like "the figure stood at" or "the total amounted to" can add nuance or formality. By understanding these aspects, writers can effectively utilize "the number was" in their work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the figure stood at

Replaces "number" with "figure" and uses "stood at" to indicate the numerical value.

the total amounted to

Emphasizes the summation aspect, suggesting an addition of multiple components.

the count reached

Highlights the action of counting or accumulating to reach a specific number.

it totaled

A shorter, more concise way of saying the total reached a certain amount.

previously it was

Focuses on the change from a previous state, indicating an earlier number.

earlier the value was

Highlights that the value was a different amount before.

the sum came to

Similar to 'amounted to', indicating an aggregation of values.

prior to that, it was

Emphasizes a chronological shift from a past number.

before, the tally stood at

Combines 'before' to specify time with 'tally stood at' to highlight a specific count.

initially, it registered

Highlights that the number was recorded at a specific level at the beginning.

FAQs

How can I use "the number was" in a sentence?

Use "the number was" to introduce a previously recorded or known numerical value, for instance, "The previous year's revenue was $1 million, but this year, "the number was" $1.5 million".

What's a more formal way to say "the number was"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases such as "the figure stood at" or "the total amounted to" as alternatives to "the number was".

Is it ever incorrect to use the phrase "the number was"?

While grammatically correct, using "the number was" can be vague if the context doesn't clearly define what "the number" refers to. Ensure clarity by specifying what is being counted or measured.

What can I say instead of "the number was" when describing a trend?

When describing a trend, consider using phrases like "previously it was", "earlier the value was", or "initially it registered" instead of simply saying "the number was".