thousands

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thousands" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a large number of items, people, or occurrences, typically in a general sense. Example: "The festival attracted thousands of visitors from all over the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Thousands of them.

The New York Times

"But I look at people who have been in politics for five, 10, 15 years, and muck up, you see them muck up and think, 'You guys are supposed to be pro!' "People that have gone to Oxbridge, had thousands spent on their education, and I mean they are royally mucking up".

The Guardian - Sport

They were arrested as a result of the British policy of internment without trial in 1971 when thousands of suspects, mainly from Ireland's nationalist-republican community, were rounded up.

The Guardian

It was also reported that Darling "flipped" the location of his second home four times in four years, allowing him to claim thousands of pounds towards the cost of his Edinburgh home and a London flat.

The Guardian

For thousands more questions and answers take a trip through the dusty corridors of the Knowledge archive.

The Guardian - Sport

In the Faroes, in "European" waters, thousands of pilot whales die each year, driven from the open Atlantic on to the islands' beaches and butchered.

The Guardian - Opinion

Revelations that Michael Jordan had lost hundreds of thousands of dollars gambling barely dented his appeal, since the story reinforced the image of him as a fierce competitor.

The Economist

Tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents – young and old, rich and poor – have peacefully occupied major thoroughfares across the city, shuttering businesses and bringing traffic to a halt.

The Guardian

Thousands of London-bound commuters have been left stranded on held-up trains for up to four hours after a power supply problem caused chaos at Clapham Junction, the UK's busiest rail station.

The Guardian

For Tasos Nyfadopoulos, the young sculptor behind the work, it is the first public tribute to the thousands of suicides the crisis has left in its wake.

The Guardian

Thousands of children were taken in and saved from the horrors of the Nazis.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thousands" to represent a general quantity when the exact number is not important or known. It provides a clear sense of scale without requiring precision.

Common error

Avoid using "thousands" with singular verbs. Ensure the verb agrees with the plural noun. For example, use "Thousands of people were affected," not "Thousands of people was affected."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thousands" functions as a plural noun, typically used to quantify or describe a large, unspecified number of items or entities. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thousands" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to indicate a large, unspecified quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely applicable across various contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific domains. When using "thousands", ensure verb agreement and consider alternative phrases like "numerous" or "a multitude of" for subtle variations in meaning. Remember that "thousands" implies a number between 1,000 and 999,999, providing a useful sense of scale without requiring precise figures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a great number of

A straightforward way to indicate a large quantity.

numerous

Highlights the existence of a large number, focusing on quantity.

a multitude of

Emphasizes a large quantity or number of something, often suggesting variety.

a myriad of

Evokes a vast and diverse quantity, suggesting complexity and variety.

countless

Suggests that the number is so large that it is impossible or impractical to count.

a host of

Implies a large and impressive number, often used in formal contexts.

innumerable

Similar to "countless", implying a number too great to be calculated.

many

A more general term for a large quantity, less specific than "thousands".

plenty of

Suggests an abundance or sufficient quantity.

loads of

An informal way to express a large quantity, suitable for casual contexts.

FAQs

How do you use "thousands" in a sentence?

"Thousands" is used to indicate a large, unspecified number, as in "Thousands of people attended the event" or "The project cost "thousands of dollars"."

What's the difference between "thousands" and "millions"?

"Thousands" refers to a number between 1,000 and 999,999, while "millions" refers to a number from 1,000,000 upwards. The scale is significantly different, so choose the word that accurately represents the quantity you're describing.

Which is correct, "thousands of dollar" or "thousands of dollars"?

"Thousands of dollars" is correct. Since "thousands" represents a plural quantity, it requires the plural form of the noun (dollars).

What can I say instead of "thousands"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "numerous", "many", "a multitude of", or "countless".