thousands of tons

USAGE SUMMARY

"thousands of tons" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a large quantity of something, particularly when referencing a material such as weight or volume. For example, "Each year, millions of truck drivers transport thousands of tons of goods across the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There is commercial interest in turning thousands of tons of dead carp into farm fertilizer.

The New York Times

Tens of thousands of tons of food alone must arrive daily in order to meet demands.

Britannica

Fluid power can provide a force of a few ounces or one of thousands of tons.

Britannica

And hundreds of thousands of tons of costly road salt is going unused.

The New York Times

Navy requirements for the ships added thousands of tons of weight, and billions in costs.

The New York Times

Thousands of tons of contaminated water have flooded key buildings adjacent to the reactors.

The Washington Post

I have read that a thimble of matter from a neutron star can weigh thousands of tons.

Cornell University

Thousands of tons of radioactively contaminated water have then been released from the Fukushima complex into the ocean.

Yale University

In their way lay thousands of tons of sand, rubble and stones built up over millennia.

BBC

The trees ultimately will reduce air pollutants by thousands of tons, she said.

Los Angeles Times

Former Soviet Union -- Hunted down thousands of tons of old but toxic pesticides.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "thousands of tons", ensure the context clearly indicates what material or substance is being measured. For instance, specify "thousands of tons of coal" or "thousands of tons of waste".

Common error

Avoid using "thousands of tons" without specifying what is being measured. Saying "thousands of tons were moved" is vague. Instead, clarify by stating "thousands of tons of soil were moved."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thousands of tons" functions as a quantifier, specifically indicating a large quantity of a particular substance or material. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and appropriate for use in various contexts. The provided examples illustrate its use in describing amounts of contaminated water, road salt, and other materials.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

2%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thousands of tons" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe a large quantity of something, particularly materials measured by weight. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s appropriate for various contexts, including news, science, and general discussions. Remember to specify what you are measuring to avoid vagueness. Related phrases like "a substantial amount" or "considerable quantities" can provide alternatives, although they might lack the precision of "thousands of tons". The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, reflecting its role in reporting on significant quantities of resources, waste, and other measurable entities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial amount

Replaces specific quantity with a general term for a considerable quantity.

a massive amount

General term to express that a large quantity is present.

considerable quantities

Focuses on the plural aspect of having multiple large amounts.

significant quantities

Highlights the importance or impact of the large amounts.

vast quantities

Emphasizes the immensity or scale of the amount.

enormous quantities

Stresses the exceptional size of the amounts.

appreciable quantities

Emphasizes that amount is large enough to be noticed or considered.

millions of tons

Indicates a much larger quantity, specifying millions instead of thousands.

hundreds of tons

Specifies a smaller quantity, focusing on the hundreds range.

a large volume

Shifts the focus from weight to volume, implying a considerable space occupied.

FAQs

How is "thousands of tons" used in a sentence?

You can use "thousands of tons" to describe a large quantity of a substance, as in "The factory produces "thousands of tons" of plastic each year".

What are some alternatives to "thousands of tons"?

Depending on the context, you could use "a substantial amount", "considerable quantities", or "significant quantities" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "thousands of tons" or "thousands of tonnes"?

"Tons" is the standard unit of weight in the United States, while "tonnes" (metric tons) is used in most other countries. The choice depends on your audience and the system of measurement you're using.

What does "thousands of tons" typically measure?

"Thousands of tons" often measures large quantities of materials such as "coal", "waste", "water", "food" or "equipment". The specific context will dictate what is being quantified.