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Viceidol Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

"in dozens" and "by the dozen"

Does those two expression mean the same thing? For example:

We sell eggs in dozens.

We sell eggs by the dozen.

Pack them in dozens.

Pack them by the dozen.

I really can't figure out what's the difference between them. Could you help me with this question? Thank you very much!
  

Top answer

I don't think I've ever heard the ones in red. Only by the dozen makes sense to me, or Pack them in groups of a dozen each. CJ

— CalifJim

  • I don't think I've ever heard the ones in red.
  • Only by the dozen makes sense to me, or Pack them in groups of a dozen each.
  • CJ
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6 Answers
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I don't think I've ever heard the ones in red. Only by the dozen makes sense to me, or

Pack them in groups of a dozen each.

CJ
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Actually, "We sell eggs in dozens." and "Pack them in dozens." comes from one of my dictionaries. (name: Wen Shin's new English-Chinese Dictionary ISBN:957-9231-16-8)

I'm surprised that those two sentences are considered inappropriate by a native English speaker.

I wonder if
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Viceidol
Actually, "We sell eggs in dozens." and "Pack them in dozens." comes from one of my dictionaries. (name: Wen Shin's new English-Chinese Dictionary ISBN:957-9231-16-8)

I think in dozens is BrE. According to the Oxford Advanced
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Interesting. The American version is "They arrived by the dozen."
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Grammar GeekInteresting. The American version is "They arrived by the dozen."
Hi, G.G.

I'm trying to make the same construction work with "scores" and "hundreds". "They arrived by the score" just doesn't sound as correct as "by the dozen" in the same situation. How about you, and others?
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Hey Philip,

Since I hate crowds, I think I'd just avoid the whole situation. Emotion: smile

Scores of them arrived on the sce
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