Thursday, September 16, 2010

Myriad—many, lot, bunch, or ton?


Would you write, "A many of friends"? Nope. Then don't write, "A myriad of friends" either. Neither a nor of goes with myriad.

Myriad means either ten thousand or a very great or indefinitely great number of persons or things. (Source: Dictionary.com)

Tip: Use myriad the same way you use many. Myriad soldiers stormed the castle. I found myriad bargains at the mall.

4 comments:

  1. Doesn't it imply both many and varied, as opposed to simply many? (definition 4)...


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    Dictionary.com
    myr·i·ad   
    [mir-ee-uhd] Show IPA
    –noun
    1.
    a very great or indefinitely great number of persons or things.
    2.
    ten thousand.
    –adjective
    3.
    of an indefinitely great number; innumerable: the myriad stars of a summer night.
    4.
    having innumerable phases, aspects, variations, etc.: the myriad mind of Shakespeare.
    5.
    ten thousand.

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/myriad

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  2. Right: "varied" also is an acceptable usage. I try to keep it simple here, but I appreciate your question. Thank you!

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  3. Very good post... short and sweet. ;-)

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  4. By the way, I couldn't find a way to contact you so I will ask here. Maybe you could use this as a topic for your next post.

    What are your personal opinions on the use of ellipses when not used to indicate an omission? You know... like this.

    I do that quite often, but I am always trying to stop myself if it is formal writing. What do you think? OK only for informal writing? Or when used in dialogue? Never?

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