a couple of experiments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a couple of experiments" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two or a few experiments conducted in a scientific or research context. Example: "In our study, we conducted a couple of experiments to test the hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Carbon dioxide is the main theme, complete with a couple of experiments to try in the real world.

The Guardian - Tech

When I ask her to describe some research she has done that is as cutting-edge as CPA, she launches into an impromptu, 10-minute lecture on a couple of experiments.

The Guardian

For example, Nathan Zeldes, a principal engineer at Intel (employees there read or send three million e-mail messages daily), is running a couple of experiments, one in which people spend a morning a week at work but offline, another in which people consciously reduce their e-mail output.

The New York Times

To test the new platform, Amazon developed a couple of experiments.

TechCrunch

Grieves and Wang (1967a, b) support this thesis with a couple of experiments.

AMB Express

The following section describes a couple of experiments that we used to verify and validate our model.

Security Informatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Our experience with the GSE data and a couple of subsequent experiments we have been involved in suggests that the algorithm we have developed is more sensitive with respect to identifying biologically relevant proteins that image analysis software might miss.

BMC Biotechnology

Indeed, a couple of the experiments (as I recall) embodied some aspects of the good ideas.

Harvard Business Review

There have also been a couple of recent experiments aimed at helping those daunted by the process.

The New York Times

When I got home again, three days ago, a couple of neuroscientific experiments had just been published in two journals simultaneously, claiming to show exactly what went on in the brain when people took LSD.

The Guardian - Opinion

A couple of lab experiments were conducted to study the influences of mulch stratum thickness and gravel grain size on water vapor flow, with a focus on resistance to evaporation in gravel mulch stratum.

Journal of Hydrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a couple of experiments" when you want to indicate a small, specific number of experiments, typically two, without being overly precise.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on vague quantifiers like "a couple of". Whenever possible, provide specific numbers or more descriptive terms to enhance clarity and precision in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a couple of experiments" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a plural noun. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, functioning to quantify the noun "experiments".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a couple of experiments" is a grammatically sound and neutrally registered expression used to denote a small quantity of experiments, usually two. While accepted in both formal and informal contexts, more precise language might be preferred in academic writing. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is accurate and functional. Its usage is common in both scientific and news-related content, highlighting its broad applicability. To enhance clarity, consider providing specific numbers or using more descriptive terms when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two experiments

Specifies the exact number of experiments conducted.

a pair of experiments

Emphasizes the experiments as a set of two.

a few experiments

Indicates a slightly less precise quantity, implying more than two but still a small number.

a couple of tests

Replaces "experiments" with "tests", implying a form of evaluation.

a couple of trials

Replaces "experiments" with the synonym "trials", maintaining the sense of testing.

several experiments

Suggests a slightly larger number of experiments than "a couple".

a couple of studies

Uses "studies" as a broader term that can encompass experiments.

a number of experiments

Indicates an unspecified, but likely small, quantity of experiments.

two investigations

Offers a more formal synonym for "experiments", suitable for academic contexts.

some experiments

A more general term, implying an unspecified small number of experiments.

FAQs

How can I use "a couple of experiments" in a sentence?

You can use "a couple of experiments" to describe a small number of scientific tests or trials that were conducted. For example, "We performed "a couple of experiments" to validate our hypothesis."

What are some alternatives to "a couple of experiments"?

Alternatives include "a few experiments", "several experiments", or specifying the exact number, such as "two experiments".

Is it appropriate to use "a couple of experiments" in formal writing?

Yes, "a couple of experiments" is generally acceptable in formal writing, although using a more precise number (e.g., "two experiments") might be preferred for enhanced clarity and accuracy.

What's the difference between "a couple of experiments" and "some experiments"?

"A couple of experiments" typically means two experiments, while "some experiments" indicates an unspecified but small number, potentially more than two.