Number

number of occasions

Yes, I know George Robertson. We’ve met on a number of occasions.

number of reasons

I decided not to go to the party for a number of reasons that I’d rather not talk about.

number of changes

A significant number of changes. Have taken place since I was at Oxford.

number of ways

Stop worrying. You can only be infected with HIV in a limited number of ways and shaking someone’s hand isn’t one of them!

number of factors

There are a number of factors that could account for the differences between the scores.

number of problems

A number of unforeseen problems have arisen and we’ve had to postpone the concert.

number of times

I’ve lost track of the number of times. Tony has asked me to lend him money.

number of advantages

Studying English in Britain has a number of distinct advantages. You can’t escape it! It’s everywhere!

appalling number of casualties

The appalling number of casualties in the First World War was due partly to incompetent officers.  

record number of replies

The advertisement we placed in last week’s paper has attracted an incompetent number of replies.

alarming number of complaints

The tour company is investigation the alarming number of complaints made against one of its hotels.

increasing number of cases

There’s been an increasing number of cases of measles among young children.

huge number of convictions

He’s a known criminal. He has a huge number of previous convictions for theft.

total number of votes

This latest result brings the total number of votes for the Socialists to over twenty million.

limited number of places

We have a limited number of free places on the course.

high number of accidents

There’s a very high number of accident at this junction.

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More and more young people are going on to higher education. The number has risen tenfold over the past decade.

The government has launched a new road safety campaign in an attempt to cut the number of deaths on the road.

The hospital has reduced the number of visitors a patient can have. Only two people are allowed in at one time.

The number of visitors to Stonehenge could soon reach saturation point. The authorities will have to start turning people away.

The number of people out of work in the town has fallen from 5000 last year to 3500.

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unlucky number

A lot of people believe that thirteen is an unlucky number.

huge number

Huge numbers of cattle have had to be slaughtered following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

exact number

The exact number of people killed in the train crash is not yet known.

wrong number

Sorry, I must have dialed the wrong number.

disproportionate number

There’s a disproportionate number of men compares to women in the government. Something must be done to redress the balance.

maximum number

There were over twenty people in the life – five more than the maximum number allowed.

 

Notes

• Note the following expressions:

A sharp increase in the number of women who smoke.

A dramatic decrease in the number of cats in the area.

Teachers are leaving in increasing numbers.

Complaints were surprisingly few in number.

• ‘Odd number’ are 1, 3, 5, 7 etc and ‘even numbers’ are 2, 4, 6 etc.