[Grammar] High & Large

[Anne59]

Hi, can anyone tell me why the following sentence is wrong?

There is a high variety of things in the shopping centres.

I've been told that I should say:-

There is a big/large variety of things in the shopping centres.

I can't see the difference.

Thanks!

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi, can anyone tell me why the following sentence is wrong?

There is a high variety of things in the shopping centres.

I've been told that I should say:-

There is a big/large variety of things in the shopping centres.

I can't see the difference.

Thanks!

Put simply, we don't collocate "high/low" with "variety". Check on the definitions of "high/low/big/large/small" etc.

 

[Anne59]

Thank you! I'd already looked at high, big and large in the dictionary and the meaning of "high" is "Greater than normal in degree, intensity or amount" So, I see "high variety" as a high amount of variety. Big and large mean "Above average in size, number, quantity, magnitude or extent" So I understand that it can be a big or large variety. I'm not sure why I can't use "high variety". Sorry to be so thick.

 

[SoothingDave]

It's simply a matter of custom, which is what "collocation" means. We simply do not talk about "varieties" as being "high."

We do say there is a "wide variety."

When "high" is used to mean "greater than normal," this is usually used with measurable things, like "high temperature" or "high river levels."

 

[emsr2d2]

You're not being thick at all. The way we use various words in English is frustratingly complicated and frequently illogical. The most natural collocation with "variety" is "wide(r)" so to be honest, none of the original suggestions would have been my choice. However, (and I can't entirely explain why) we simply do not say "high variety".

 

[Anne59]

THANK YOU for your help!