their number

USAGE SUMMARY

"their number" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It usually refers to a group of people or objects, and can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, "The school sent out a survey to get feedback from their students; their number was impressive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some love their number because it's theirs.

The New York Times - Tech

Their number varies.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"They all have their number".

The New York Times

What is their number?

The Guardian

Their number was 11872.

The New York Times

Their number runs into the millions.

Independent

But one of their number was absent.

The Economist

Their number, however, is gently declining.

The Economist

Strict registration requirements reduced their number dramatically.

The Economist

Persecution has whittled their number down.

The Economist

Soon their number will begin to shrink.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "their number", ensure the context clearly identifies the group or entity to which the number refers. Avoid ambiguity by providing specific details or context.

Common error

Avoid using "their number" when the antecedent is unclear. Ensure the pronoun "their" has a clear and unambiguous referent to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "their number" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "their" is a possessive pronoun modifying the noun "number". Ludwig AI confirms it's often used to refer to a quantity, an amount, or a unique identifier associated with a group or entity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "their number" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that serves to indicate the quantity, amount, or specific identifier of a group or entity. Ludwig AI confirms its usage is widespread across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business writing. To ensure clarity, it's important to establish a clear antecedent for "their". While the phrase is versatile, being mindful of the context and avoiding ambiguity are crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how many they are

Directly asks for the numerical size of a group.

the amount they have

Focuses on the quantity or amount possessed by a group, rather than a specific identifier.

the figure they represent

Emphasizes a numerical value that represents a group or entity, often in statistics or data.

the total of their members

Highlights the collective size of a group, often used in formal contexts.

the count of individuals in their group

A more formal and precise way of referring to the number of people belonging to a specific group.

the quantity of items they possess

Replaces a general count with the amount of possessions.

the amount of things they own

Refers to the number or quantity of items that belong to a specific group.

their contact details

Shifts the focus to methods of communication, such as phone numbers or email addresses.

their identification code

Specifies a unique identifier assigned to a group or entity.

the digits they are assigned

Refers to numerical identifiers assigned to individuals or entities, emphasizing the assigned nature of the numbers.

FAQs

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

You can use "their number" when referring to a group's quantity or a specific identifier assigned to them. For example, "The refugees grew in number, and their number continues to increase daily".

What does "their number" mean?

The phrase "their number" can refer to the quantity or amount of something belonging to a group, or it can refer to a specific telephone number or code associated with a group.

What can I say instead of "their number" when referring to contact information?

If you're referring to contact information, you can use alternatives like "their contact details" or "their phone number".

Is it always clear what "their number" refers to?

No, it's important to provide context. If you just say "their number is declining", the readers may not know who you are talking about. Adding context helps the clarity of the sentence.