there was a lot of

USAGE SUMMARY

"there was a lot of" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It can be used to indicate an amount of something, for example: "There was a lot of noise coming from the auditorium."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There was a lot of attrition".

The New York Times

And there was a lot of pressure".

The New York Times - Sports

There was a lot of that too.

The New York Times - Arts

"There was a lot of biting.

The New York Times

There was a lot of sexual fainting.

The New York Times - Books

There was a lot of unhappiness".

The New York Times - Magazine

There was a lot of good stuff".

The New York Times - Sports

"There was a lot of splashing".

The New York Times - Sports

There was a lot of crying.

The Guardian - Film

There was a lot of this rubbish".

The New Yorker

There was a lot of yelling.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there was a lot of" when you want to emphasize a large quantity or amount of something in a straightforward manner. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "there was a lot of" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language by using synonyms like "abundant", "numerous", or restructuring the sentence to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

Descriptive. The phrase "there was a lot of" functions as a descriptive expression used to indicate a significant quantity or amount of something. It aligns with Ludwig's assessment that the phrase is grammatically sound and serves to describe the extent or magnitude of a particular entity or occurrence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there was a lot of" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a significant amount or quantity of something. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It is versatile and appears frequently in various contexts, especially in news and media. While it's useful for conveying quantity, be mindful of overuse and consider synonyms like "there was a great deal of" or "there was plenty of" to maintain writing variety and engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there was a great deal of

Replaces "lot" with "deal" to indicate a large amount.

there was plenty of

Indicates a sufficient or more-than-sufficient quantity.

there was a considerable amount of

Highlights the significance of the quantity.

there existed an abundance of

Uses more formal vocabulary to express a large quantity.

there was a wealth of

Suggests a rich and plentiful supply.

there was an ample supply of

Focuses on the availability of something in a sufficient quantity.

there was a profusion of

Emphasizes a large and extravagant quantity or variety.

there was no shortage of

Expresses the presence of something in contrast to a lack thereof.

there was an excess of

Highlights an overabundance, potentially implying negativity.

there were numerous instances of

Shifts focus to repeated occurrences rather than quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "there was a lot of" in a sentence?

You can use "there was a lot of" to describe a large quantity of something. For example, "there was a lot of excitement at the concert" or "there was a lot of traffic on the highway".

What are some alternatives to "there was a lot of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "there was a great deal of", "there was plenty of", or "there was an abundance of" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "there was a lot of"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "There was a lot of" is a common and acceptable phrase used to indicate a significant quantity or amount.

When is it more appropriate to use "there were many" instead of "there was a lot of"?

"There were many" is more appropriate when referring to countable nouns, while "there was a lot of" is often used with uncountable nouns. For example, "there were many people" versus "there was a lot of water".