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Learning English Grammar | number and amount

English Grammar | how to describe the number of / amount of something

The internet is becoming accessible to a growing amount of people. [incorrect]
The internet is becoming accessible to a growing number of people. [correct]

The table shows the number of people who visited the gallery each day. [correct]
The table shows number of people who visited the gallery each day. [incorrect]

We use number of before a plural countable noun:
The chart shows the number of hours students spend on assignments.
The table shows the number of passengers who use the airline every month.
The information shows the number of people who have more than one child.
The graph shows how the number of schools in the area has grown in recent years.
The table shows the number of times per day the website was accessed.

We use amount of before an uncountable noun:
If we look at the amount of energy consumed each month.
The amount of food purchased per family has increased in the last 10 years.
The amount of digital information available online is amazing.
The chart shows the amount of money spent by local government on community projects.
The table gives information about the amount of time people spend on leisure activities.
The amount of industrial waste being processed has increased.

We use the + number of / amount of to talk generally about a quantity:
The number of passengers carried each year has risen gradually.
We need to reduce the amount of water we waste.

We often use a / an before an adjective + number of / amount of:
They spend a significant amount of money on travel.
This is the best way to reach a large number of people.

But: the average, the greatest, the largest, the maximum, the same, the total number of / amount of something

Number and amount are used to describe the actual quantities of things or people. Percentage and proportion are used to describe measurements as part of a total:
The percentage of students with blue eyes is 25%.
The number of students with blue eyes is 6.

See more common English grammar mistakes

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