a couple of sections

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a couple of sections" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two or a few sections of a document, article, or any other written material. Example: "In the report, I focused on a couple of sections that highlight the main findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

A couple of sections have chromatic themes.

The New York Times - Arts

I'll be reading a couple of sections from it, but he's not the founder, tough break for Alexander Hamilton.

Yale University

The first half breezes by more quickly than the second, which includes a couple of sections that, though sweetly intended, simply last too long.

The New York Times - Arts

Anyway, to speak of walking the wall is in an important sense meaningless, because apart from a couple of sections that are themselves reconstructions, the one-time "anti-fascist rampart" is all gone.

The Guardian

Over the next few weeks we are going to be trialling some changes to the comment system underneath some articles in a couple of sections on the site - Books and Music.

The Guardian

This account appeared in his diary dated 20 August 1918: [Major] Fryer told me to take a Lewis gun and a couple of sections and capture or knock out the [German] machine gun.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Late Monday morning, the college relented; Dean Watts said the department could add a couple of class sections for the best students in the next level down.

The New York Times

Below is an example of what the output should look like with a couple of important sections annotated.

Harvard University

Today there are also a couple of preserved sections of the wall, a Checkpoint Charlie display, a dedicated museum and even kitsch celebrations of the infamous East German car, the Trabant.

The Guardian

There are also a couple of platforming sections that take place on crumbling segments, which invariably kill the player the first time round, making the game feel a little trial-and-error at times.

The Guardian - Tech

App developers are beginning to receive rejection notices from Apple's Review team that reference a couple of key sections of Apple's Developer Guidelines as to why their apps are not being accepted in the App Store.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a couple of sections" when you want to refer to exactly two or a small number of parts within a larger document or structure. It provides a sense of specificity without being overly precise.

Common error

Avoid using "a couple of sections" repetitively in close proximity within your writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "two sections", "several sections", or "some sections" to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a couple of sections" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a noun, modifying the noun "sections." It specifies the quantity of sections being referred to. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

24%

Science

18%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a couple of sections" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to refer to two or a small number of parts within a larger structure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, ranging from news and media to academic and scientific writing. While its meaning is clear, varying your vocabulary by using alternatives like "several sections" or "a few sections" can enhance your writing style. Remember to use "a couple of sections" precisely when you intend to indicate a quantity of two, and be mindful of overuse. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two sections

Directly specifies the number of sections.

a pair of sections

Highlights the sections as a set or pair.

several sections

Emphasizes more than just two, suggesting a few more.

a few sections

Slightly less precise, indicating more than two but not many.

some sections

Indicates an unspecified number of sections, more general.

certain sections

Highlights specific, identified sections.

specific sections

Similar to "certain sections", emphasizing particular parts.

selected sections

Implies a choice or curation of sections.

handful of sections

Indicates a small number, slightly informal.

a brace of sections

More formal and less common alternative for two sections.

FAQs

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

You can use "a couple of sections" to refer to two or a small number of distinct parts of a document, report, or other structured text. For example, "I focused on "a couple of sections" that were particularly relevant to the research question."

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

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "several sections", "a few sections", or the more specific "two sections".

Is it grammatically correct to say "a couple of sections"?

Yes, "a couple of sections" is grammatically correct. The phrase "a couple of" is an idiomatic way to refer to two of something, and it's properly used here with the plural noun "sections".

When should I use "a couple of sections" versus "several sections"?

"A couple of sections" specifically means two sections, whereas "several sections" indicates more than two, but not a large number. Use "a couple of sections" when you want to be precise about the quantity being two.