thousands of tonnes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thousands of tonnes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a large quantity of weight, typically in contexts related to shipping, industry, or environmental discussions. Example: "The factory produces thousands of tonnes of waste each year, which raises concerns about environmental impact."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The impact knocked thousands of tonnes of material into space.

The Guardian

Today, boats bring back thousands of tonnes a year – though cod and haddock still dominate catches.

The Guardian

The coffee chain Costa, for example, sends bio-bean thousands of tonnes of used coffee grounds a year.

The Guardian

According to Soft Landing, salvaging metal, foam and timber from mattresses diverts thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill annually.

The Guardian

Tens of thousands of tonnes of rubbish piled up.

BBC

The industrial action saw thousands of tonnes of waste left on the city's streets.

BBC

One is moving vast quantities of stuff, thousands of tonnes of it at a time, around the country.

Forbes

Moving the clocks forward one hour would save hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, campaigners say.

BBC

Allied armies of many lands had already mounted three bloody assaults on Cassino and dropped thousands of tonnes of bombs.

BBC

But along with that prosperity have come problems like traffic snarls and thousands of tonnes of daily garbage.

BBC

SO YOU have thousands of tonnes of stuff, all dug from the earth's bowels.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "thousands of tonnes", ensure that the context clearly indicates what material is being measured. For example, specify "thousands of tonnes of coal" or "thousands of tonnes of waste".

Common error

Avoid using "thousands of tonnes" interchangeably with "thousands of tons" without proper conversion. A tonne (metric ton) is slightly different from a ton (imperial ton), so ensure accuracy when converting between the two.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thousands of tonnes" functions as a quantifier, specifying a large quantity of weight. It is typically used as a noun modifier, providing information about the scale or magnitude of something. Ludwig shows it accurately describes a significant amount, often in contexts concerning industry, waste, or natural resources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thousands of tonnes" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a large quantity of weight, primarily found in news, scientific, and business contexts. According to Ludwig, it accurately conveys the scale of industrial processes, waste management, or natural phenomena. While alternatives like "thousands of tons" exist, it's important to ensure accurate unit conversion. The phrase serves to emphasize the magnitude of something significant, helping to clarify impacts, resources, or operations. When you need to talk about large quantities, "thousands of tonnes" is a good fit for clarity and understandability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thousands of tons

Uses the imperial unit "tons" instead of the metric "tonnes".

a massive quantity of tonnes

Replaces "thousands" with "a massive quantity", emphasizing the large amount.

a huge volume of tonnes

Emphasizes the bulk amount using "volume" instead of quantity.

substantial tonnes

Uses "substantial" to indicate a significant quantity.

considerable tonnes

Emphasizes the amount of tonnes as noteworthy.

innumerable tonnes

Indicates a very large quantity of tonnes that cannot be counted easily.

a multitude of tonnes

Indicates a large, but not necessarily precisely quantified, quantity of tonnes.

significant tonnage

Uses "tonnage" as a collective noun to refer to a large quantity of tonnes.

metric tons in abundance

Highlights the abundance of metric tons.

tons in great measure

Highlights how the tons are in large amounts.

FAQs

How do I use "thousands of tonnes" in a sentence?

Use "thousands of tonnes" to describe a large quantity of something, usually in contexts involving industry, waste management, or natural events. For example, "The factory produces "thousands of tonnes" of emissions annually".

What can I say instead of "thousands of tonnes"?

You can use alternatives like "thousands of tons", "a massive quantity of tonnes", or "substantial tonnes" depending on the context.

Is "tonnes" the same as "tons"?

No, "tonnes" (metric tons) and "tons" (imperial tons) are different units of measurement. A tonne is 1,000 kilograms, while a ton can refer to different weights depending on the system (short ton vs long ton). Be precise in your writing and avoid the potential confusion between the two.

In what contexts is "thousands of tonnes" typically used?

"Thousands of tonnes" is commonly used in discussions about environmental impact, industrial output, waste management, and large-scale construction or demolition projects. For example, reports on carbon emissions or the amount of waste diverted from landfills often cite figures in "thousands of tonnes".