tons of kids

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tons of kids" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used informally to indicate a large number of children in a casual context. Example: "The park was filled with tons of kids playing and having fun on a sunny afternoon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

There were tons of kids.

The New York Times - Sports

Tons of kids?

The New Yorker

"Tons of kids" would frequent the house, Mr. Mahon said.

The New York Times

"This time there will be tons and tons of kids," Ms. Lai said.

The New York Times

And going to these auditions with just tons of kids and they were just awful.

The New York Times

"There's a lot of jumping over the river, which I think there should be because there's tons of kids," Mr. Clancy said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

"I think it inspired a ton of kids in L.A".

The New York Times - Sports

He told me that Scientology "recruited a ton of kids out of that school".

The New Yorker

("There's a ton of kids in Mexico who love this kind of music, but they'll never be able to see them," he said. "That border might as well be the Berlin Wall").

The New York Times - Arts

I remember being at his house creating the menu for Party Bar and he'd gone out the night before and bought a ton of kids' crayons and swaths of paper.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Or just a ton of kids who haven't been taught that it's not cool to break other people's crap.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events or places, consider using the phrase to quickly convey a sense of energy and activity. For example, "The summer camp was buzzing with tons of kids running around and playing games."

Common error

Avoid using "tons of kids" in formal documents or academic papers. It's too informal and may undermine the seriousness of your writing. Opt for alternatives like "a large number of children" or "many children" in professional contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tons of kids" functions as a quantifier followed by a noun. It indicates a large, unspecified number of children. Ludwig confirms its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "tons of kids" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a large quantity of children. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, it's primarily suited for informal contexts. The phrase's function is to emphasize abundance, and its use is most frequent in news and media sources. For formal writing, alternatives such as "a large number of children" are more appropriate. It is important to be aware of the context and audience when using "tons of kids" to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

loads of kids

Uses a different informal term, "loads", to indicate a large quantity.

a whole bunch of kids

Uses "a whole bunch" for an informal and emphatic expression of quantity.

plenty of kids

Emphasizes that there are more than enough children.

a great number of children

Replaces "tons" with a more descriptive and slightly more formal phrase.

lots of children

More formal and less emphatic than the original phrase.

a multitude of children

Replaces "tons" with a more formal synonym, "multitude".

numerous kids

A more formal synonym that still conveys a large quantity.

a swarm of kids

Uses "swarm" to emphasize the active or numerous presence of children.

hordes of kids

Implies an overwhelming and possibly chaotic number of children.

many children

Provides a simple and direct alternative, lacking the emphasis of "tons".

FAQs

What does "tons of kids" mean?

The phrase "tons of kids" is an informal way of saying there are "a lot of kids" or a large number of children.

Is "tons of kids" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "tons of kids" is generally considered informal and is better suited for casual conversations or less formal writing. In formal contexts, it's better to use phrases like "a large number of children" or "many children".

What are some alternatives to "tons of kids"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "loads of kids", "a multitude of children", or "many children".

How can I use "tons of kids" in a sentence?

You can use "tons of kids" to describe a situation with many children present, like "There were "tons of kids" playing in the park this afternoon" or "The amusement park was packed with "tons of kids" during the summer vacation".