a couple of users

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a couple of users" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small, unspecified number of users, typically two or a few more. Example: "We received feedback from a couple of users regarding the new interface."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

At least a couple of users found it an opportunity for sarcasm: This video is super boring.

The New York Times

"It might make sense for places like Starbucks or McDonald's, but we only have a couple of users at a time," said Ray Heng, the owner of Sand Pebbles Lounge, a Mexican restaurant.

The New York Times

Although Kononchuk et al. did not use an implicit client-server model, a couple of users were assigned as service party, one of these parties in particular denoted by ({mathcal {A}}).

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

The measure can be established between a couple of users by taking into account different relationships or interactions between them or it may also assess a user's global influence in the network considering all the relations and interactions where his peers are involved in.

Computational Social Networks

Funny enough, there are a couple of users on Twitter whose accounts have almost the exact web address as the pages linked above, with the exception that you need to use uppercase characters to get to them.

TechCrunch

After a few weeks of innocent flirtations with a couple of users, I decided it would be OK to meet up with a guy called "ToekneeHawt", hoping his arrogance was just confidence.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

This is a relatively light slap on the wrist since the game only launched two days ago and had a couple of thousand users (Update: Zynga says FishVille had 875,000 users yesterday. wow).

TechCrunch

But the time-sharing systems of the 1960's proved unable to scale up beyond a couple of hundred users.

The New York Times

Corner Cars, the brainchild of Ian Sacs, Hoboken's enthusiastic director of parking and transportation, is only a few weeks old, with just a couple of hundred users so far.

The New York Times

I spoke to a couple of Entrustet users, who said they particularly wanted to protect photos stored online, along with hosting and domain-­registration information for personal and business sites.

The New York Times - Magazine

That's a couple of million users short of rival Hotmail, which was acquired by Microsoft for $400 million.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When greater precision is needed, consider using alternatives like "two users" or "three users".

Common error

Avoid using "a couple of users" when you have an exact count greater than three, as it can be misleading. In such cases, use "several users" or specify the precise number.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a couple of users" primarily functions as a determiner phrase modifying the noun "users". It indicates a small, indefinite quantity. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a couple of users" is a grammatically sound and common way to refer to a small, unspecified number of users, typically two or three. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness. While adaptable across various contexts, it's most frequently found in News & Media and Scientific domains. For greater precision or in highly formal settings, alternatives like "a few users" or specific numbers are advisable. The phrase effectively quantifies a subset of users when the exact number is not critical but conveys a sense of a small group.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a pair of users

Replaces "couple" with "pair", explicitly indicating two users.

a few users

Replaces "couple" with "few", indicating a small but indefinite number of users.

several users

Substitutes "couple" with "several", suggesting a slightly larger, non-specific number of users.

two or three users

Provides a more specific range for the number of users.

a limited number of users

Emphasizes the restriction on the quantity of users.

a small group of users

Replaces "couple" with "small group", highlighting the users as a collective.

a handful of users

Implies the number of users is easily manageable or countable.

some users

Offers a more general term for an unspecified number of users.

a minority of users

Highlights that the users represent a smaller portion of the total user base.

a select few users

Suggests the users were chosen or represent a specific subset.

FAQs

What does "a couple of users" mean?

The phrase "a couple of users" refers to a small number of users, typically around two or three. It's used when the exact number is not critical or is unknown.

What can I say instead of "a couple of users"?

You can use alternatives like "a few users", "several users", or "some users" depending on the context.

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

While "a couple of users" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives like "a small number of users" or specifying the exact number may be preferred in highly formal contexts.

When should I use "a couple of users" versus "a few users"?

"A couple of users" typically implies two, whereas "a few users" suggests a slightly larger, but still small, number (usually three or four). Choose the phrase that best represents the intended quantity.