too numerous

USAGE SUMMARY

"too numerous" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that there are too many of something to count. For example, "The stars in the night sky were too numerous to count."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The highlights were too numerous to mention.

The New York Times - Arts

Now they're too numerous to estimate.

Independent

Copyists are too numerous to list.

The Guardian - Music

The costs are too numerous to contemplate.

The Guardian

Other amenities too numerous to maintain".

The New York Times

The evening offered debuts and revivals too numerous to mention.

The New York Times - Arts

Does being an arachnid make my legs look too numerous?

The New Yorker

But what of others, too numerous to count?

The New York Times

They are certainly too numerous to list here.

The Guardian - Opinion

Colonel Silvestre's awards and recognitions are too numerous to mention.

The New York Times

But what if your failings are too numerous to count?

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "too numerous" to express that something is so abundant it's difficult or impossible to count, list, or manage. For example, "The applications were "too numerous" to review in a single day."

Common error

Avoid using "too numerous" when simply indicating a large quantity that is still countable or manageable. Instead, use "very many" or "a large number of" to maintain clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too numerous" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes something that exists in such a large quantity that counting or listing each item is impractical or impossible. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "too numerous" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote an overwhelming quantity of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its function is to emphasize that an amount is not just large, but unmanageable to count or list individually. It finds application across various contexts, including news, science, and formal writing, with its most frequent appearance in the news media. When using it, ensure it truly reflects an unmanageable quantity rather than just a large one, and consider using alternatives like "too many" or "countless" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

too many to count

Emphasizes the impossibility of counting due to the high quantity.

uncountable amount

Highlights the impossibility of determining the total quantity.

incalculable number

Focuses on the inability to calculate the exact quantity.

more than can be listed

Highlights the impracticality of listing all items due to their large number.

a plethora of

Indicates a large and excessive amount, often implying variety.

exceedingly abundant

Highlights the surplus or oversupply of something.

countless instances

Emphasizes the repeated occurrence of something to a degree where counting is impractical.

an overabundance of

Stresses the state of having too much of something.

too great a quantity

Directly refers to the excessive amount or volume.

an endless array of

Suggests a seemingly infinite variety or collection.

FAQs

How can I use "too numerous" in a sentence?

Use "too numerous" to describe something that is so abundant it's hard to count or list. For example, "The reasons for his success are "too numerous" to mention individually."

What are some alternatives to saying "too numerous"?

You can use alternatives like "too many", "countless", or "incalculable" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "too numerous to mention" or "too many to mention"?

"Too numerous to mention" is generally considered more formal and emphatic, while "too many to mention" is more conversational. Both are acceptable but choose the one that best suits the tone of your writing.

What does "TNTC" mean in a scientific context?

In some scientific fields, particularly microbiology, TNTC stands for "too numerous to count", indicating that the quantity of something, like bacterial colonies on a plate, is too high to be accurately counted.