Number vs amount: top tips to remember which is which
Number vs amount: this simple tip will help you remember the difference
Of course you could! Here goes:
To start with, it can help to know that things you can count are called count nouns, and things you can’t count are called mass nouns.
Use AMOUNT for things you can’t count (mass nouns):
- the amount of rain
- the amount of information
- the amount of coffee
Use NUMBER for things you can count (count nouns)
- the number of rainy days
- the number of facts
- the number of cups of coffee
Simple as that: if you can count it, use NUMBER. If you can’t, use AMOUNT.
Did you know?
The same rule applies for LESS and FEWER, which are equally commonly confused.
Bonus tip
Once you know this, you can apply the same logic to MANY and MUCH.
Use MANY for things you can count, and MUCH for things you can’t.
For example:
- Using too MANY words can confuse your message.
- Too MUCH confusion can prevent customers from buying your products.
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Number vs amount: simple tips to remember the difference