counting
counting — noun
1. The act of saying numbers one after another in order, or the process of working
The act of saying numbers one after another in order, or the process of working out how many people or things are in a group.
The counting of votes after a close election can take several hours.
the counting of + noun phrase (votes)
Grandma taught Kim the basics of counting using dried beans and a jar.
Accurate counting is essential when a warehouse manager takes inventory each month.
The kindergarten class practiced counting by twos and backward from ten.
Omar's job involves the counting of library books at the end of every term.
- enumeration
formal; used in technical or academic writing
- tallying
emphasises keeping a running total rather than just reciting numbers
- reckoning
more historical or literary; can mean counting or calculating
文法句型
the counting of + noun phrase
counting + noun phrase
常見錯誤
2. The process of counting people or things to determine how many there are, often
The process of counting people or things to determine how many there are, often producing an official figure or total.
The vote counting continued through the night as watchers from both parties stayed until dawn.
the counting of + noun phrase (vote) — process that gives a total
Careful counting of the donations revealed that the fundraiser had collected over forty-three thousand dollars.
adjective + counting + of + noun phrase — describes how the process is done
The counting of the third-grade students before the field trip took nearly twenty minutes.
Accurate counting of the inventory is essential before the annual audit each year.
The counting of spectators at the stadium entrance helped security stay within the legal capacity.
- tallying
emphasises keeping a running record, often on paper or a chart
- tabulation
formal; used when data is organised into tables or columns
文法句型
the counting of + noun phrase
adjective + counting + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
The gerund noun 'counting' in this sense describes the process of tallying that produces a total figure. It is uncountable — do not use 'a counting' or 'countings'. For the resulting total itself, use the shorter noun 'count' (e.g. 'the final count was 350', not 'the final counting was 350').
常見錯誤
3. The process of determining the number of cells, particles, or other microscopic
The process of determining the number of cells, particles, or other microscopic units in a sample, especially in medical tests or environmental monitoring.
The counting of white blood cells helps doctors detect infections before symptoms appear.
the counting of + cells — medical context
Daily counting of pollen in the air helps Taipei's allergy clinics issue timely warnings.
adjective + counting + of + noun phrase — environmental monitoring
Counting bacteria in a milk sample is a standard safety check at local dairy farms.
Microscopic counting of platelets gave Dr. Nakamura the information she needed to adjust the dosage.
The laboratory's automated counting of red blood cells is more reliable than manual methods.
- enumeration
formal term for counting one by one, used in scientific writing
- quantification
broader; can refer to measuring amounts, not just countable items
文法句型
the counting of + noun phrase (cells/particles)
adjective + counting + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from the noun 'count' (as in 'blood count'): this sense describes the process of determining a value, not the resulting value itself. 'Counting' is uncountable here. When you need the test result (e.g. 'a blood count of 5000'), use 'count', not 'counting'.
常見錯誤
counting — verb
- countingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- countings3rd person singular
- countinging-ing form
- countingedpast simple
1. To say numbers one after another in the correct order, or to find the total numb
To say numbers one after another in the correct order, or to find the total number of people or things in a group by checking each one.
The children counted from one to thirty in Mandarin during the lesson.
count from [number] to [number]
Sofia counted the ingredients on the kitchen counter to see if anything was missing.
count + direct object (ingredients)
Little Haruto can count up to fifty but gets confused after that.
Before leaving the park, Mrs. Okonkwo counted her children to make sure nobody was lost.
The cashier counted the money in the register twice to be absolutely certain.
文法句型
count + noun phrase
count from [number] to [number]
count up to [number]
常見錯誤
2. To count how many people are present in a place, especially to check that everyo
To count how many people are present in a place, especially to check that everyone who should be there is there.
The camp counselor counted the children after every hike to make sure nobody was missing.
count + group of people (the children)
Before the doors closed, the flight attendant counted the passengers one last time.
The tour guide counted the group before getting back on the bus.
The security guard counted the crowd at the stadium entrance to stay within the safety limit.
After the fire drill the principal counted the students in the parking lot.
文法句型
count + noun phrase (people)
用法筆記
Distinct from the general RECITE NUMBERS sense — here the purpose is verifying presence or completeness, not simply calculating a figure. The object is always a group of people.
3. To be important or to have an effect on a situation, especially in deciding the
To be important or to have an effect on a situation, especially in deciding the result or the value of something.
In a marathon every second counts, especially during the final kilometer.
every [noun] counts — fixed expression for importance
What counts most to Mrs. Park is that her students feel safe and respected.
what counts (most) is + that-clause
Experience often counts for more than a university degree in this industry.
A single mistake can count against you during a job interview.
For the scholarship committee, community service counts as much as academic achievement.
- matter
the closest synonym; slightly more formal and neutral in tone
- be important
more direct; works in formal and informal registers
- weigh
suggests being a significant factor in a decision; more formal
文法句型
count + (for + noun phrase)
count + against + noun phrase
用法筆記
Intransitive only — you cannot 'count something' in this sense. Use 'count for' to express degree of importance, 'count against' for disadvantage, and 'count as much as' for equal value. The fixed expression 'every second/minute/dollar counts' is very common in everyday English.
常見錯誤
4. To consider someone or something as belonging to a particular type or group, or
To consider someone or something as belonging to a particular type or group, or to have a particular quality or value.
The court counted the defendant's past record as evidence of a pattern of behaviour.
count + noun phrase + as + noun phrase (classification)
In tennis a ball that lands outside the line does not count as a point.
count as + noun phrase — being classified as
Dr. Chen counts her volunteer work in rural towns among her most valuable experiences.
Most birdwatchers count spotting a rare species as the highlight of their trip.
The judge counted the witness's statement as unreliable because it was contradicted by other evidence.
文法句型
count + noun phrase + noun phrase/adjective (object complement)
count + as + noun phrase
用法筆記
Two main patterns: (a) transitive with object complement: 'count someone something' (e.g. 'count it a success') — slightly formal; (b) 'count as' for classification (e.g. 'this counts as experience') — very common in everyday English. In the passive, 'be counted as' is also frequent: 'this can be counted as a win'.