what amount

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what amount" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring about a specific quantity or sum of something, often in contexts involving money or measurements. Example: "Could you please tell me what amount you are willing to invest in this project?"

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But what amount do they pay?

Yale University

The whole world knows who has what amount of weapons.

Independent

If so, what amount of money is appropriate?

The New York Times

But what amount of detachment would be right?

University of California, Berkeley

Therefore, it would be economically beneficial to know under what conditions and to what amount the asphaltene precipitates.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

But what amount of dictionary abuse can account for the entirety of the sentence around it?

The New Yorker

The two also do not agree on what amount of financing the state is cutting.

The New York Times

What amount of subjectivity should you put on that tortilla?" He took another sip.

The New Yorker

You might wish to take advice on what amount would be reasonable.

The Guardian - Money

Andrea Zittel and Jessica Stockholder offer what amount to complete homes.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

If in doubt of what amount to use, add a few drops to your conditioner, and apply in the shower.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking about a specific quantity, ensure the context clearly indicates the units of measurement. For example, specify if you are asking about "what amount" in kilograms, liters, or dollars.

Common error

Avoid using "amount" when referring to countable items. "Amount" is typically used for uncountable nouns (e.g., "what amount of water") while "number" is used for countable nouns (e.g., "what number of students").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what amount" functions as an interrogative determiner used to inquire about the quantity or measure of something, typically a non-countable noun. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Academia

24%

Science

24%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "what amount" serves as a grammatically sound and widely applicable interrogative determiner used to inquire about quantities, especially of non-countable items. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered correct. It is frequently found in News & Media, Academia and Science, suggesting a formal to neutral register. When using "what amount", it's crucial to distinguish it from "how many", which is appropriate for countable nouns. For alternative phrasing, consider options such as ""how much"" or ""what quantity"" based on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how much

Focuses on quantity or degree, suitable for uncountable nouns or general amounts.

what quantity

Emphasizes the measurable or countable aspect of the amount.

what proportion

Highlights the relative size or ratio of the amount.

what volume

Specifies the space occupied by the amount, often used for liquids or gases.

what degree

Refers to the extent or intensity of the amount, often used for abstract concepts.

what extent

Indicates the range or scope of the amount.

what measure

Suggests a standard unit or method for quantifying the amount.

what sum

Specifically refers to the total amount of money.

how many

Used for countable nouns, inquiring about the number of items.

what number

Directly asks for the numerical value of the amount.

FAQs

How do I use "what amount" in a sentence?

Use "what amount" to inquire about the quantity of something, especially when it is uncountable. For instance, "What amount of sugar should I add?" or "What amount of time will it take?"

What can I say instead of "what amount"?

You can use alternatives like "how much", "what quantity", or "what degree" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "what amount of" for countable nouns?

No, it is generally incorrect. Use "how many" for countable nouns. For example, use "how many apples" instead of "what amount of apples".

What's the difference between "what amount" and ""how much""?

While both inquire about quantity, "what amount" is slightly more formal. "How much" is more commonly used in everyday conversation and writing, but they are largely interchangeable.