Amount vs. Amounts

[CarloSsS]

I've just come across a use of the word amount in plural. I've always seen it used as singular, such as "a large amount of work", "a tremendous amount of money" etc. But in what contexts, do I use amount in plural? Or perhaps they are both equal and I can use whichever I please?

Also, is there any difference in the meaning of these two sentences?

The server is designed to store huge [B]amounts[/B] of data.
 The server is designed to store a huge [B]amount[/B] of data.

 

[bhaisahab]

I've just come across a use of the word amount in plural. I've always seen it used as singular, such as "a large amount of work", "a tremendous amount of money" etc. But in what contexts, do I use amount in plural? Or perhaps they are both equal and I can use whichever I please?

Also, is there any difference in the meaning of these two sentences?

The server is designed to store huge [B]amounts[/B] of data.
 The server is designed to store a huge [B]amount[/B] of data.

Both of the examples are correct.

 

[CarloSsS]

Both of the examples are correct.

Maybe I did not make myself clear enough. I know they are correct, but what I don't know is whether there is any difference in meaning between amount and amounts. Or is the plural of amount the same as the singular as far as meaning is concerned?

 

[SoothingDave]

There is no difference in meaning. It has to do with whether you are thinking of one large pile of data or various piles of data. Bob has an amount of data on the disk. Sue has an amount of data. Jim has an amount of data. Viewed that way, there are huge amounts of data.

Viewed as one lump of data, there is a huge amount of data.