a several dozen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a several dozen" is not correct in written English.
It should be "several dozen" or "a dozen" depending on the context. Example: "We have several dozen cookies ready for the party."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Mr. Langone's decision came just hours after Mr. Christie announced to the world that he would not make a bid for the White House, dashing the hopes of a several dozen prominent Republican officials and activists who had urged him to run.

The New York Times

Microsoft says it wants to offer objective information, chastising Quicken for directing people toward transactions Intuit will get a cut of if they're completed, but Intuit's wide array of a several dozen partners should be complete enough so as not to make anybody feel like they have been railroaded.

Forbes

Therefore, a collection of a several dozen unrelated lines is expected to contain regulatory mutations in almost every gene.

BMC Systems Biology

Moreover, most studies are conducted in vitro, on cell cultures, or on artificially infected animals, with analysis being done within a several dozen hours after infection.

BMC Veterinary Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A several-dozen strong US special forces team flew in by helicopter and briefly met some 18 Taliban on the ground.

BBC

He adds about three more layers by the way he carries his beer-keg belly, and, when all's said and done, he's responsible for a several-dozen-layered character that was written with maybe two in mind.

Huffington Post

* In each outbreak, the identified vehicles were traced to a single manufacturer Company A produced several dozen tons of chocolate per day.

BMC Infectious Diseases

But she did find a surprise: several dozen little plastic boxes filled with three-by-five-inch index cards.

The New Yorker

By the second decade of the 21st century, he had penned (alone or with a coauthor) several dozen novels, with worldwide sales exceeding 300 million copies.

Encyclopedia Britannica

WILLIAM STYRON: In the last three-quarters of a century, several dozen Americans condemned and executed have been proved innocent after their deaths.

The New Yorker

"Take us to Staten Island!" Schwartz said the other night, standing in front of a crowd of several dozen in a SoHo restaurant and channelling a Martian voyager.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a quantity close to thirty, use "several dozen" or "a few dozen" instead of "a several dozen" for grammatical accuracy. Always double-check your article usage with quantifiers to ensure correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "a" before "several dozen". The correct form omits the article or uses "a few dozen". For example, say "several dozen eggs" or "a few dozen eggs", not "a several dozen eggs".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a several dozen" attempts to quantify a noun, indicating an approximate quantity of something. However, it's grammatically flawed as the article "a" is incorrectly placed. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase should omit the article.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a several dozen" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms that the correct form is "several dozen" or "a few dozen". Although the phrase appears in various sources, its incorrectness affects its reliability and clarity. When expressing quantities, it's best to opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure effective communication. Remember to consider context and register when selecting the most appropriate substitute.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Several dozen

Omission of the article "a" corrects the grammatical error, maintaining the approximate quantity.

A few dozen

Replaces "several" with "a few", offering a slightly less precise but grammatically sound alternative.

Around thirty

Provides a numerical approximation instead of a vague quantifier, enhancing clarity.

Approximately thirty

Similar to 'around thirty', this offers a numerical approximation with a more formal tone.

Dozens of

Uses a different structure to indicate a similar quantity, removing "several".

Many dozens

Emphasizes a larger quantity, implying more than just a few dozen.

A good few dozen

Inserts "good few" to soften the quantity as a more casual expression.

Some dozens

Replaces "several" with "some" to slightly modify the vagueness of the expression.

Multiple dozens

Highlights that there's more than one dozen.

A number of dozens

Uses a more verbose phrasing, underlining quantity.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "a several dozen"?

No, the phrase "a several dozen" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "several dozen" or "a few dozen".

What's the difference between "several dozen" and "a few dozen"?

Both "several dozen" and "a few dozen" indicate an approximate quantity of items, roughly around thirty-six. "Several dozen" suggests a slightly larger amount than ""a few dozen"", but the difference is minor.

How can I use "several dozen" in a sentence?

You can use "several dozen" to describe a quantity of items. For instance: "The bakery prepared several dozen cookies for the event". Remember to avoid the incorrect form "a several dozen".

What are some alternatives to saying "a several dozen", correcting its grammar?

Alternatives include "several dozen", "a few dozen", "around thirty", or simply "dozens of" depending on the context.