amount vs. number

Linguistic Reminder

(A similar problem is discussed in French in the reminder Montant.)

Problem

People often use amount instead of number to refer to things that can be counted exactly or approximately. This usage is incorrect.

Solution

The following table shows the correct usage for amount and number.

If referring to	Then use
a total or mass	amount
things that can be counted exactly or approximately	number

Examples

The following table shows examples of how to use amount and number.

Amount	Number
The concert is expected to bring in a huge amount of money for the fundraiser.	Only a small number of people have travelled to Antarctica. (not a small amount of people)
This cookie recipe calls for a tiny amount of salt.	I cannot remember the number of times I've been snowboarding. (not the amount of times)

Amount

Number

The concert is expected to bring in a huge amount of money for the fundraiser.

Only a small number of people have travelled to Antarctica.

(not a small amount of people)

This cookie recipe calls for a tiny amount of salt.

I cannot remember the number of times I've been snowboarding.

(not the amount of times)

Linguistic Recommendation reference number

REM-2/2007-11

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