Amount vs number
Use amount for things you cannot count one by one, like water or sugar. Use number for things you can count, like guests or books.
Look at the noun after of. Plural, like people or tickets? Use number. No plural, like milk or homework? Use amount.
amount noun
How much there is of something you measure as a whole and cannot count one by one, like water or sand.
- Add a small amount of salt to the soup.
- The amount of rain this spring was unusual.
number noun
How many there are of things you can count one by one, like people or cars.
- A large number of students signed up for the trip.
- The number of cars on the road doubles at rush hour.
Watch out
- You will sometimes hear amount used with things you can count, as in the amount of members. This use is nonstandard. In careful speech and writing, use number.The number of members in the club doubled over a year.
- Amount can also be a verb. Amount to means to add up to a total, or to be the same as something.The yearly savings amount to a significant sum.
Test yourself
A small blank of milk spilled on the floor.
Show answer
amount. You cannot count milk one by one, so use amount.
The blank of people at the concert surprised us.
Show answer
number. People can be counted one by one, so use number.
She was shocked by the blank of homework she had.
Show answer
amount. Homework is measured as a whole, not counted as separate items, so use amount.
We sold a record blank of tickets this year.
Show answer
number. Tickets can be counted, so use number.