My question concerns proper use of the word numerous and of the word innumerable.
I am in a problem which is rare: which one to choose even if I consult thesaurus. This is what I have learned so far:
- As regards parts of speech of the words, numerous is adjective and innumerable is also adjective.
Here is the situation: Too many and numberless checks of a bank contain a schedule, which shows total number of checks.
If I had 10000 checks, would that be many or too many checks? (In the context, the total number of checks vary; sometimes the check numbers range from AS MANY AS 6 or 7 to 22000 thousands.
This has been quite a number of years, I can't remember exactly the total number of checks.
In this context, I think I cannot make distinction between "many" and ""too many" in any other way (is this hyperbole?). The day's work must be completed on the same day, this is the office rule. I can not evade responsibility even if the number of checks is double next day. Whatever be the number of checks, I must obediently obey the order, because if the check numbers are double or triple than the previous day and the order comes very higher authority from H/o or z/o.
This is reply of the office of grievance, if any, about questions regarding many and too many.
In other informal cases The dictionary meanings are:
numerous (adj) many; consisting of many members; existing in large numbers
innumerable (adj) too many to be counted; very many; numberless
Is the distinction between formal and informal?
Here in this official case of mine, innumerable (meaning very many, numberless) checks to be counted. Obviously, in this particular case hyperbole exists.
Is "to be counted" an idiom or phrase which has a special meaning in the context of dictionary meaning?