a couple of thousands

USAGE SUMMARY

"a couple of thousands" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a specific, but unspecific quantity (e.g. of people, of items, of things, of places). For example: "A couple of thousands of people attended the concert."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

You will see a couple of thousands, really.

Cornell University

And of course there's also a tremendously rich historical legacy of Jewish law going back a couple of thousands of years.

Harvard University

And there's a couple of thousands that we're still working on because, of course, once you find a planet, you have to run every potentially imaginable test to rule out that it's something else, like a mistaken instrument and mistaken observations.

Cornell University

And if someone is telling you that you'll have to sacrifice a couple of thousands of dollars to do it, well, who wouldn't, because they are desperate". Gutierrez and other immigrant rights activists offer the following advice to those looking to resolve their residency problems: Contact community-based groups that work with immigrants or an attorney who specializes in immigration law.

Los Angeles Times

Besides we have sacrificed a couple of thousands in parking page income to put up links about Ebola on the site.

Independent

The newly proposed two-dimensional linear regression models are found to be useful, unlike a simulation based on a couple of thousands of random samples, in comparing the estimators of variance.

Computational Statistics & Data Analysis

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

When something goes wrong, instead of a couple-of-hundred-thousand-part recall, you have a multiple-million-part recall". Tuesday's recall and sales suspension covered the following models and model years: the 2009-10 RAV4, 2009-10 Corolla, 2009-10 Matrix, 2005-10 Avalon, 2010 Highlander, 2007-10 Tundra, 2008-10 Sequoiandnd certain 2007-10 Camodelsdels.

The Washington Post

Manafort was involved in a couple of million-dollar investment deals with oligarchs linked to Putin.

The Washington Post

Seven bass they had caught, including a couple of three-pounders.

The New York Times

Apart from her pianos - three Steinway grands, plus a couple of 18th-century instruments - she has few obvious indulgences.

The Guardian - Music

Doorway to Design will conduct a couple of two-and-a-half-hour, $17 tours of interior-design showrooms, next Wednesday and Saturday, March 5 and 8.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a couple of thousands", ensure the context makes it clear that you're referring to a quantity in the thousands, not literally two groups of one thousand. For instance, clarify the unit being measured: "a couple of thousands of dollars" or "a couple of thousands of people".

Common error

Avoid using "a couple of thousands" when you mean a precise number like 2,000, or a larger, vaguer quantity. Using it for 2,000 may sound odd because "couple" implies approximation more than precision. For larger quantities say "several thousand" or "many thousands" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a couple of thousands" functions as a quantifier, indicating an approximate quantity numbering in the thousands. This usage is supported by examples found via Ludwig and confirmed correct by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Academia

22%

Science

22%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a couple of thousands" is a grammatically correct quantifier used to indicate an approximate quantity around two thousand. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and usable in English, and as illustrated by the examples from Ludwig, it appears in varied contexts, including news, academia, and science. While not as frequent as simpler quantifiers like "thousands" or "a few thousand", it provides a useful way to specify a number that's more precise than a large undefined quantity. When using this phrase, clarify the units being measured and ensure the context is appropriate for an approximate, rather than precise, figure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two thousand or so

Uses a different numerical quantifier and the approximation "or so" for a less precise estimate.

approximately two thousand

Replaces "a couple of" with "approximately", making the quantity slightly more formal and precise.

around two thousand

Uses "around" to indicate an approximate quantity, similar in meaning to "approximately".

a few thousand

Employs "a few" instead of "a couple of", indicating a small but unspecified number in the thousands.

several thousand

Replaces "a couple of" with "several", suggesting a slightly larger, though still indefinite, number in the thousands.

some thousands

Uses "some" to express an indefinite quantity in the thousands, which is less common in modern English.

thousands, give or take

Emphasizes the range and approximation, adding a colloquial feel with "give or take".

in the neighborhood of two thousand

A more descriptive and less direct way of indicating a quantity close to two thousand.

a pair of thousands

Replaces "couple" with "pair" which indicates exactly 2. This usage is very uncommon

a brace of thousands

Employs "brace", suggesting two things considered together, but it's an archaic usage.

FAQs

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

Use "a couple of thousands" to indicate an approximate quantity that is around two thousand. For example: "A couple of thousands of fans attended the concert".

What phrases are similar to "a couple of thousands"?

Alternatives include "around two thousand", "approximately two thousand", or "a few thousand", depending on the level of precision needed.

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

Yes, "a couple of thousands" is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. However, be sure the context clarifies what the 'thousands' refers to.

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

"Thousands" refers to a large, unspecified number. "A couple of thousands" specifies a smaller, still unprecise, quantity numbering approximately two thousand.