a couple of posts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a couple of posts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two or a few items, typically in the context of social media or blog entries. Example: "I just published a couple of posts on my blog about travel tips and photography."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

"I've hit a couple of posts lately.

The New York Times - Sports

I had a couple of posts with good questions.

The New York Times

You can click here for my full archive of Reason posts, including a couple of posts on antitrust, a couple of posts on public-employee unions and pensions, and a couple of posts on prison privatization.

The Washington Post

"A couple of posts and point-blanks — I thought they were going in for sure.

The New York Times - Sports

LAST week I wrote a couple of posts about the cost of restricting urban development.

The Economist

Having already written a couple of posts about the aftermath of the Charleston shootings, I'll keep this one brief.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

A couple of post-season friendlies on the other side of the Atlantic aside, this acrimonious marriage of convenience is over.

The Guardian - Sport

"When you think they arrived up in Wrexham a few weeks before the start of the season with a couple of post protectors, a couple of tackle bags and maybe a dog.

The Guardian - Sport

I have applied for a couple of post-doctoral schemes or fellowships and all the appropriate temporary contracts I can find.

The Guardian

In all we spent about 10 days on the islands doing assessments and distributing boxes, then going back and doing a couple of post-distribution assessments.

The Guardian

One of them was Henri Cartier-Bresson, whose images from a couple of post-war Tours and from the Paris six-day race in 1957 are full of his usual close interest in humanity.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a couple of posts", ensure it's clear whether you mean exactly two or just a few. If the exact number is important, use "two posts" instead.

Common error

Avoid using "a couple of posts" when you actually mean a significantly larger number of posts. "Couple" generally implies two, or at most, a very small number close to two.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a couple of posts" functions as a determiner phrase quantifying the noun "posts". It indicates a small, indefinite number, typically understood to be two, similar to the findings observed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a couple of posts" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to a small number of articles or online entries. As supported by Ludwig, it generally implies two, or a few, items. While versatile, it's crucial to ensure clarity and avoid using it when referring to a significantly larger number. Ludwig's AI confirms the phrase is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, reinforcing its general acceptability and utility. Consider alternatives such as ""two posts"" or ""a few posts"" for added precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two posts

Specifies the exact number of posts being referred to.

a pair of posts

Emphasizes that there are exactly two posts.

a few posts

Similar to "a couple", suggesting a small quantity of posts.

a couple of blog entries

Replaces "posts" with "blog entries", specifying the type of content.

several posts

Indicates more than two posts, but still a limited number.

a couple of articles

Substitutes "posts" with "articles", referring to written pieces.

a handful of posts

Suggests a slightly larger number than "a couple", but still not many.

a limited number of posts

More formal and explicit in indicating a small quantity.

some posts

A more general term indicating an unspecified number of posts.

a couple of updates

Uses "updates" instead of "posts", implying more recent information.

FAQs

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

You can use "a couple of posts" when referring to a small number of articles or entries, such as, "I read "a couple of posts" about the new policy before forming my opinion.".

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

Alternatives include "several posts", "a few posts", or, if you mean exactly two, "two posts".

Is it correct to say "a couple posts" without the "of"?

While omitting "of" might be understood in informal contexts, it's grammatically preferable to include "of" for formal writing: ""a couple of posts"" is the standard form.

What's the difference between "a couple of posts" and "a few posts"?

"A couple of posts" generally means two, whereas ""a few posts"" indicates a small number that's more than two but less than several. The distinction is subtle, depending on context.