a couple time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a couple time" is not correct in written English.
The correct expression is "a couple of times," which is used to refer to two or a few occurrences of something. Example: "I have visited that museum a couple of times over the years."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

… Addition to one of the earlier reports: A campaign aide points out that Gov. Romney uses his iPad to read scriptures, which could explain why he glanced down at his lap a couple time during the service.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He interrupts Yellen a couple times.

The Guardian - Business

A couple times I backed off.

The New York Times - Sports

A couple times actually.

The New York Times - Magazine

"A couple times," she gamely replied.

The New York Times

"It's hurt him a couple times.

The New Yorker

I stepped out a couple times.

The New York Times

We went to L.A. a couple times.

The New York Times - Sports

I've come close a couple times".

The New York Times

He beat his chest a couple times.

The New Yorker

We still talk a couple times a week.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the phrase "a couple of times" instead of "a couple time". The former is grammatically correct and widely accepted, while the latter is not.

Common error

Don't omit the "of" and the "s" in "a couple of times". Omitting these makes the phrase grammatically incorrect. Remember that "couple" functions as a noun in this context, requiring "of", and "times" indicates multiple instances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a couple time" is intended to function as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating frequency. However, due to its grammatical incorrectness, it fails to fulfill this function effectively. Ludwig AI highlights that the grammatically correct form is "a couple of times".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a couple time" is a grammatically incorrect phrase. Ludwig AI's analysis indicates that the correct and widely accepted form is "a couple of times". While the intention is to express that something occurred twice, the incorrect phrasing undermines its effectiveness, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's crucial to include "of" and the plural "times" to adhere to standard English grammar. Instead of "a couple time", consider using alternatives like "a few times", "several times", or "twice" for clearer and more accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a couple of times

Corrects the grammatical error by adding the preposition "of" and pluralizing "time", making it grammatically sound.

a few times

Replaces "a couple" with "a few", indicating a small number of occurrences without specifying exactly two.

several times

Indicates more than a few occurrences, implying a higher frequency than "a couple of times".

on a couple of occasions

Replaces "times" with "occasions", offering a more formal alternative with the same meaning.

twice

Specifically indicates two occurrences, providing a more precise alternative to "a couple of times".

a handful of times

Suggests a small, indefinite number of occurrences, similar to "a few times".

on two occasions

Specifies that something happened on exactly two separate instances.

a couple instances

Replaces "times" with "instances", providing a slightly different wording with similar meaning, though less common than "a couple of times".

a small number of times

Emphasizes that the number of occurrences is not large.

more than once

Indicates that something happened at least two times, without specifying the exact number.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something happened twice?

The correct way is to say it happened "a couple of times" or simply "twice". The phrase "a couple time" is grammatically incorrect.

How many occurrences does "a couple of times" imply?

"A couple of times" implies two occurrences of something. It's a way of saying something happened twice.

Is "a couple time" ever acceptable?

No, "a couple time" is not considered acceptable in standard English. The correct form is "a couple of times".

What can I use instead of "a couple of times"?

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