a mere couple

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mere couple" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the smallness or insignificance of a quantity, typically referring to two of something. Example: "I only have a mere couple of hours to finish this project before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

This might be because of a mere couple words' difference.

The New York Times

However, a mere couple of dozen enzymes account for over 90% of total industrial enzyme use.

Biotechnology Applying the Genetic Revolution

This lasted a mere couple of days before the hotel room phone started ringing off the hook.

The Guardian - Opinion

By contrast, one of the scientific advisers for Ex Machina, geneticist Adam Rutherford, describes the consciousness of Ava's character as being a mere "couple of conceptual breakthroughs" away.

Independent

Outside the Albert Hall, I met a woman flogging a pair of tickets to the Ring in Bayreuth for a mere couple of thousand pounds.

The Guardian - Music

Today, most Americans change health insurers when they change jobs: average tenure with any given insurer is a mere couple of years.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Cather provides a biographical portrait identical to that of Blind Tom as well as a deeply appreciative version of his childhood relation to the piano: "He approached this highly artificial instrument through a mere instinct, and coupled himself to it, as if he knew it was to piece him out and make a whole creature of him".

The New York Times - Books

The book mixes findings from broad, well-controlled surveys with findings from small, arbitrary studies; for instance one that is cited as showing that women are more inclined to value emotional communication than their husbands featured voice-activated tape recorders placed in the living rooms of a mere dozen married couples.

The New York Times - Books

Otherwise, the resulting PG would be a mere assembly of coupled functions and not a coherent and compact representation of the way functions cooperate in supporting complex biological activities.

BMC Systems Biology

The S500 creeps along at a mere 120kph for another couple of miles, monitoring the situation with a trio of radar beams until the traffic clears.

The Economist

It marked a turning-point: from what essentially was a mere game reserve with a couple of big cats, Ranthambore became the world's tiger capital.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a mere couple" to effectively downplay a quantity, suggesting it's surprisingly small or insignificant. This can add emphasis to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a mere couple" excessively in formal writing. While grammatically correct, overuse can make your tone sound condescending or dismissive. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "a few" or "a small number" in professional settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mere couple" functions as a quantifier, specifically emphasizing the smallness or insignificance of a number or quantity. Ludwig AI highlights the phrase's common usage in various contexts to downplay or diminish the importance of the mentioned amount.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a mere couple" is a grammatically sound and commonly used quantifier to emphasize the smallness or insignificance of a quantity, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's most frequently found in News & Media contexts and can add a slightly informal tone to writing. While generally acceptable, it's best to avoid overuse in formal contexts to prevent sounding dismissive. Alternatives like "just a couple" or "only a couple" can be used for a more neutral tone. Therefore, while "a mere couple" is perfectly valid, consider your audience and the desired level of formality when using it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just a couple

Replaces "mere" with "just", slightly reducing the emphasis on insignificance.

only a couple

Similar to "just a couple", emphasizing limitation rather than insignificance.

simply a couple

Uses "simply" to downplay the number's importance.

a small number

Generalizes to a small quantity without specifying the exact number.

few

A concise way to indicate a small quantity.

only two

Specifies the exact number, emphasizing the smallness.

just two

Similar to "only two", but with a slightly more casual tone.

a paltry couple

Adds a stronger sense of insignificance and worthlessness.

a trifling couple

Similar to "a paltry couple", implying a lack of importance.

a scant couple

Emphasizes the insufficiency or bareness of the quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "a mere couple" in a sentence?

Use "a mere couple" to emphasize that a quantity is surprisingly small or insignificant, such as "I spent a mere couple of hours on the project".

What phrases are similar to "a mere couple"?

You can use alternatives such as "just a couple", "only a couple", or "a small number" depending on the context.

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

While grammatically correct, using "a mere couple" can sometimes sound dismissive. Consider using more neutral phrases like "a few" or "a small number" in formal contexts.

What is the difference between "a mere couple" and "just a couple"?

"A mere couple" emphasizes the insignificance or surprising smallness of the quantity, while "just a couple" simply indicates a small quantity without necessarily emphasizing its unimportance.