about two brains

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about two brains" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing topics related to neuroscience, psychology, or metaphorically referring to intelligence or decision-making. Example: "The study revealed that the average human brain processes information similarly to about two brains working together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

(Talk about two brains).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I got to the point where I was wet-brained—I mean, I had about two brain cells left.

Vice

How do feel about your nickname, 'Two Brains'?

The Guardian

General Myers is but one member of a Pentagon brain trust of about two dozen that Mr. Rumsfeld now convenes each workday morning to review war planning for Iraq and other global hot spots.

The New York Times

AOIFE: Please say more about "You need at least two brains to write".

The New Yorker

He's greatly interesting about how we all have two brains: the rational brain and the irrational brain.

The New York Times

There are about twelve RSNs in the brain as previously reported, such as the default mode network (DMN), the sensorimotor network (SMN), the visual network (VN), the auditory network (AN), the salience network (SN), and the attention and executive function networks [ 23, 24].

BioMed Research International

In fact, Baumeister and his team say that it when it comes to your brain, it takes about five positive events to make up for one negative event.

Huffington Post

This is "Once and Again," ABC's show about two middle-aged brains in two -- supposedly -- "middle-aged" bodies.

The New York Times

Before, it was about one little brain and one little sensor, very tightly programmed.

The New York Times

At its core, Android has always been about openness — the idea that a thousand brains are better than one.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing cognitive load or processing capacity, use "about two brains" to illustrate a doubling of normal human capability. This can be effective in explaining complex systems or collaborative efforts where cognitive resources are pooled.

Common error

Avoid using "about two brains" when a precise number is needed. This phrase implies an approximation and is inappropriate if exactness is required.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about two brains" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or verb, often to describe the quantity or capacity related to cognitive processing. Ludwig's examples show it can describe everything from wet-brained individuals to middle-aged bodies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about two brains" is a grammatically sound expression used to illustrate the amount of cognitive resources required for a particular task. As Ludwig AI explains, it functions as a prepositional phrase suggesting cognitive capacity. While the phrase is most frequently found in news and media, it can also be used in scientific contexts to show cognitive workload rather than as a literal scientific measurement. Be mindful that this expression is most appropriate in neutral to informal settings, as a more formal term exists, but is not frequently used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately two minds

Replaces "brains" with "minds" and "about" with "approximately", maintaining a similar meaning with slight change in vocabulary

roughly two intellects

Substitutes "about" and "brains" for "roughly" and "intellects" respectively, emphasizing intellectual capacity.

involving a pair of brains

Changes the structure to emphasize the involvement of two brains rather than approximation.

concerning dual brains

Replaces "about" with "concerning" and "two" with "dual", focusing on the topic of two brains.

relating to a couple of brains

Uses "relating to" instead of "about" and "couple" instead of "two", providing a more conversational tone.

regarding two cerebral entities

Employs more formal vocabulary, replacing "brains" with "cerebral entities".

referring to two minds

Shifts from "brains" to "minds", indicating a cognitive rather than purely physical aspect.

two brains in question

Highlights the presence of two brains as the subject of discussion

in the context of two brains

Focuses on framing a scenario or situation with two brains as the central element.

discussing two encephalons

Replaces "brains" with the more technical term "encephalons".

FAQs

How can I use "about two brains" in a sentence?

You can use "about two brains" to illustrate a concept of combined cognitive effort. For example, "The study revealed that the average human brain processes information similarly to about two brains working together."

What does it mean to say something requires "about two brains"?

It suggests that the task or situation requires a cognitive capacity or processing power equivalent to that of two individual brains, implying a substantial amount of intellectual effort.

Are there alternatives to using the phrase "about two brains"?

Yes, you could use alternatives such as "approximately two minds" or "roughly two intellects", depending on the context.

Is "about two brains" a scientifically accurate statement?

Not necessarily. It's more often used metaphorically to illustrate cognitive workload rather than as a literal scientific measurement. Using a more precise comparison may be better depending on the context.