What is the difference, if any, between these sentences?
"African-Americans are greater in number."
"African-Americans are greater in numbers."
I want to say that there are more African-American people
Learn English – ‘greater in number’ or ‘greater in numbers’
quantifiers
Best Answer
"African-Americans are greater in number" is the correct form for the expression.
'In number' here specifies the aspect in which the African-American people are greater than other kind of people in. Works the same way as 'in size' in "Pigs are greater in size than chickens". Consider now "Pigs are greater in sizes than chickens". Here, the mistake becomes evident.
'In numbers' can sound correct to some because there is a common phrase in American English, 'by the numbers' and 'by numbers' which, according to the Oxford Dictionary, mean "following simple instructions identified or as if identified by numbers", but isn't.