thousands and thousands

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thousands and thousands" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a very large quantity of something, often in a hyperbolic manner. Example: "There were thousands and thousands of stars visible in the night sky."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Thousands and thousands of gers.

The Guardian

The lives, the lives, thousands and thousands and thousands of lives.

The Washington Post

She spends most days looking over thousands and thousands and thousands of MRI and CT scans.

The Washington Post

It had thousands and thousands of galaxies in it.

The Washington Post

Thousands and thousands of lives, we have nothing.

The New York Times

"There could be literally thousands and thousands of them.

The Guardian

"Thousands and thousands" appears to be a huge stretch.

The Washington Post

It's thousands and thousands of pages.

Forbes

KASTHURI: We probably do thousands and thousands of slices.

University of Chicago

Thousands and thousands of women spoke with confidence and conviction.

Forbes

Thousands and thousands!

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the tone of your writing. While acceptable in most contexts, it may be too informal for highly technical or academic writing where precision is paramount.

Common error

Avoid using "thousands and thousands" in formal reports or academic papers where specific numerical data is expected. Instead, provide precise figures or use more formal alternatives such as "numerous" or "a significant number of".

Linguistic Context

Thousands and thousands" functions as a quantifier phrase, used to indicate a large, indefinite number. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound. Examples from Ludwig show it describing quantities of people, galaxies, pages, and more, emphasizing scale.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thousands and thousands" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to emphasize a large, indefinite quantity. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, this phrase serves to vividly convey scale and abundance. While generally neutral in register, it is best reserved for situations where precise figures aren't necessary or available. For more formal or academic writing, alternatives like ""many thousands"" or ""countless numbers"" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

many thousands

Omits the repetition for a slightly less emphatic but similar meaning.

countless numbers

Replaces "thousands" with "countless" focusing on the inability to count.

innumerable instances

Uses "innumerable" to highlight the vastness of the quantity and "instances" to specify occurrences.

a multitude of

Employs "multitude" to suggest a large and indefinite number.

an abundance of

Focuses on the plentiful nature of the quantity.

a great many

Uses "great many" for a more general expression of a large quantity.

a vast amount of

Emphasizes the large scale of the quantity, often used for uncountable nouns.

loads of

Offers an informal way to express a large quantity.

masses of

Suggests a large, unorganized quantity or collection.

hordes of

Implies a large, often overwhelming, number or crowd.

FAQs

How can I use "thousands and thousands" in a sentence?

You can use "thousands and thousands" to emphasize a large quantity. For example, "There are "many thousands" of stars in the night sky" or "Countless numbers of people visit the museum each year".

What are some alternatives to "thousands and thousands"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "many thousands", "countless numbers", "innumerable instances", or "a multitude of".

Is it grammatically correct to say "thousands and thousands"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It is used for emphasis to indicate a very large number, and it is acceptable in both speech and writing.

When should I avoid using "thousands and thousands"?

Avoid using "thousands and thousands" in formal or academic writing where precise numbers are expected. In such cases, providing specific figures or using more formal alternatives is more appropriate.