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I read an article saying:

I delivered as many as two hundred pizzas!

Is this correct? What does it mean, as many as two? Is is similar to about, maximum, or almost?

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there's nothing wrong with "as many as", as answered already; the plural form of "pizza" is "pizzas" though (or "pizze", if you want to use the Italian) - so the correct sentence would be "I delivered as many as two hundred pizzas!" – Tao Dec 27 '11 at 13:53
"As many as two" can be used rather ironically. In its literal sense, two isn't a big number, is it? – Irene Dec 27 '11 at 14:15

closed as general reference by RegDwighт♦ Dec 27 '11 at 14:05

This question is too basic; it can be definitively and permanently answered by a single link to a standard internet reference source designed specifically to find that type of information. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.

1 Answer

up vote 1 down vote accepted

The sentence you saw in the article is correct. It means: I am surprised that I delivered such a big number of pizzas.

It isn't similar to about (= approximately, give or take a few items) or almost (= nearly) or maximum (= the most possible/allowed).

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The maximum means that you have a upper limit so it is not correct to use it in that context (x=<1000). I agree about the others. Generally it means more or less the number. In math we would say that x is closed in [1000-e,1000+e] interval, where e is really a small number. – speedyGonzales Dec 27 '11 at 13:45
what if I get a as many as two? Isn't two too small for such an expression? – spauny Dec 27 '11 at 13:47
Wouldn't it be 'two hundred pizzas'? – Barrie England Dec 27 '11 at 13:51
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Or "two hundred pizzae"? – JeffSahol Dec 27 '11 at 13:54
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@JeffSahol: 'Pizze', I believe. – Barrie England Dec 27 '11 at 16:26
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