a couple of seconds

USAGE SUMMARY

"a couple of seconds" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a brief period of time. For example, "Everyone was silent for a couple of seconds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A couple of seconds went by.

The New York Times

For a couple of seconds.

The Guardian - Sport

"There was only a couple of seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

He waited a couple of seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

He paused a couple of seconds.

The Guardian - Business

That'll last a couple of seconds.

The Guardian

In a couple of seconds it had covered three feet.

The New Yorker

After just a couple of seconds, I panic and gasp.

Independent

"It was all over in a couple of seconds.

Independent

He should have waited a couple of seconds".

The Guardian - Sport

Tony takes a couple of seconds to gather himself.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a couple of seconds" when you want to indicate a brief, imprecisely measured duration, typically shorter than a minute. It's suitable for describing events that happen quickly or short pauses.

Common error

Avoid using "a couple of seconds" when an exact duration is known or crucial. Instead of estimating, provide the precise number of seconds for clarity and accuracy, especially in technical or scientific contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a couple of seconds" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating the duration of an action or state. Ludwig provides examples illustrating its use in various contexts, describing short periods of time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

32%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a couple of seconds" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a short duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Wiki sources. While versatile, it's best to avoid it when precise timing is necessary. Consider alternatives like "few seconds" or "brief moment" for subtle variations in meaning. Remember that while generally neutral, more formal situations might benefit from a more precise measurement. Understanding these nuances will help you use "a couple of seconds" effectively in your writing and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

few seconds

Replaces "couple" with "few", slightly altering the emphasis on quantity while maintaining the same general meaning of a short duration.

matter of seconds

Emphasizes the importance or impact of the short time frame.

mere seconds

Underlines how insignificant the duration is.

brief moment

Emphasizes the brevity and fleeting nature of the time period.

short time

Uses a broader term for duration, making it less precise than the original phrase.

just a moment

Shifts the focus to a less precise measure of time but maintains brevity.

split second

Highlights the extreme shortness of the duration, implying it happened almost instantaneously.

very short time

Simplifies the expression while maintaining the general meaning.

fleeting instant

Highlights how quickly the time passes.

quick flash

Focuses on the sudden and rapid nature of an event.

FAQs

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

You can use "a couple of seconds" to describe a short duration. For example, "I'll be there in "a couple of seconds"" or "The light turned green after "a couple of seconds"".

What's a more formal way to say "a couple of seconds"?

While "a couple of seconds" is generally acceptable, in more formal contexts, you might use "a brief period" or specify the approximate duration more precisely if possible. For example: "The presentation will pause for "a brief period"".

Is it more correct to say "a couple seconds" or "a couple of seconds"?

"A couple of seconds" is the grammatically correct and more commonly used phrase. Omitting the "of" is generally considered less formal and may sound awkward.

What are some alternatives to "a couple of seconds" that emphasize speed?

To emphasize speed, you could use phrases like "split second", "instant", or "blink of an eye", depending on the context.