a time or two

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a time or two' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has happened twice or more, especially when you don't want to specify the exact number of times. For example, "I've visited Paris a time or two in my life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I've been around a time or two.

The Washington Post

But it has been done a time or two.

The Guardian - Sport

I was honored to hear him a time or two.

The New Yorker

She licked her fingertips, dribbled the ball a time or two, and knocked down the shot.

The Washington Post

Not that he couldn't have let Romney have it a time or two.

University of California, Berkeley

Look for Mr. Stewart to cross the line to good effect a time or two.

The New York Times

I have a feeling he's pitched with this maybe a time or two".

The New York Times - Sports

A time Or two had my lights knocked out, my knee socks knocked off, But soft.

The New Yorker

She came here and we apparently saw each other a time or two?" "That's right.

The New Yorker

And of course the name Elway might have crept into the conversation a time or two.

The New York Times - Sports

He had me laughing a time or two at the sheer brazenness of the schemes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a time or two" when you want to indicate that something has happened on a few occasions without specifying an exact number.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "a time or two" in your writing. While it's a perfectly acceptable phrase, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or lacking in precision. Instead, consider using synonyms or specifying the actual number of times something occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a time or two" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating frequency or occurrence. Ludwig provides examples where it suggests something happened a few times, without being exact. It adds a touch of understatement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

16%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a time or two" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase in English to indicate that something has occurred on a few occasions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, academia and formal business environments. While versatile, it's advisable to avoid overusing it and to opt for more precise language or synonyms when appropriate. When looking for a more formal replacement, consider "on a couple of occasions" or "more than once".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few times

More explicit about the small number of occurrences than the more ambiguous "a time or two".

on a couple of occasions

More formal way of saying something happened twice, close in meaning to "a time or two".

more than once

Highlights the repetition of an event, but it is vaguer than specifying "a time or two".

occasionally

Suggests something happens sometimes, but not frequently, differing from "a time or two" by not explicitly implying a small number of instances.

now and then

Similar to "from time to time" but carries a slightly more casual tone.

from time to time

Indicates something happens periodically, with the implication of more widespread instances than in "a time or two".

once in a while

Implies an infrequent occurrence, slightly less frequent than "a time or two".

every so often

Indicates irregular intervals, while "a time or two" suggests a limited number of instances.

a handful of times

Suggests a slightly larger quantity compared to "a time or two", while still indicating a small number of instances.

several times

Suggests a higher number of occurrences than "a time or two", implying more than just a couple.

FAQs

How can I use "a time or two" in a sentence?

Use "a time or two" to indicate that something has happened on a few occasions, but not frequently. For example, "I've been to Italy "a time or two", but I'm no expert."

What's a more formal alternative to "a time or two"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "on a couple of occasions" or "more than once". These alternatives maintain the meaning of ""a time or two"" while sounding more sophisticated.

Is it appropriate to use "a time or two" in academic writing?

While ""a time or two"" isn't inherently inappropriate for academic writing, it's often better to be more precise. If possible, specify the exact number of times something occurred. If precision isn't possible, consider more formal alternatives such as "on several occasions".

Which is correct, "a time or two" or "a time or three"?

"A time or two" is the standard and commonly used phrase. "A time or three" is not a recognized idiom and should be avoided. If you mean more than two times, consider using "several times" or "a few times" instead.