at a couple of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a couple of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a small number of items or instances, typically referring to two or a few. Example: "I visited at a couple of museums during my trip to the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Let's look at a couple of them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Look at a couple of books.

The New Yorker

You normally are looking at a couple of hours' notice.

The New York Times

I've looked at a couple of his fights.

The Telegraph

SEX -- Only hinted at a couple of times.

The New York Times

You don't just look at a couple of months".

The New York Times - Sports

He swings at a couple of fastballs, to no avail.

The New York Times

Having completed his studies, Mr Dantas spent profitable spells at a couple of banks.

The Economist

Then we'll look at a couple of cases that are more favorable to Mr. Santorum.

The New York Times

Stoney's regret went beyond irritation at a couple of clear penalty shouts that were not given.

Independent

"At a couple of spots," he said, "I was reaching for notes that weren't there".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing locations or instances where something occurs, "at a couple of" works well to imply that the event or item is present in more than one place or time, but not many.

Common error

Avoid using "at a couple of" in formal or academic writing where a more precise term like "two" or "several" might be more appropriate. Overuse can make writing sound casual.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a couple of" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or verb to indicate location, instance, or occurrence. Ludwig provides examples showing its role in specifying where or when something happens.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at a couple of" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to indicate a small quantity or occurrence in multiple locations or times. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility spans across various contexts, although it's most frequently found in news and media. While perfectly acceptable, remember that "at a couple of" may be perceived as informal in highly academic or scientific writing; choosing a more precise term may enhance formality in such scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few

Indicates a small number, similar to "at a couple of", but without the specific implication of two.

a pair of

Specifically refers to two items, emphasizing the pairing aspect which may be absent in "at a couple of".

several

Indicates more than two but still a limited number, less precise than "at a couple of".

a handful of

Suggests a small quantity that can be held in one hand, implying a slightly larger quantity than "at a couple of".

a small number of

More formal way to express a limited quantity, lacking the casual tone of "at a couple of".

a limited number of

Similar to "a small number of" but emphasizing the restriction in quantity.

in a few

Focuses on instances or occasions rather than items, providing a slightly different emphasis.

on a couple of

Emphasizes the selection or occurrence on specific items or occasions.

two or three

Specifies a range, making it more explicit but less concise than "at a couple of".

a brace of

An archaic term for a pair, generally used for game birds, adding a historical or formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "at a couple of" in a sentence?

You can use "at a couple of" to indicate a small number of items or locations, such as, "I've worked "at a couple of" companies" or "She hinted "at a couple of" interesting points during the meeting".

What phrases are similar to "at a couple of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a few", "a pair of", or "several", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it always appropriate to use "at a couple of" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "at a couple of" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's often better to use more precise language, such as "two" or "a few".

What's the difference between "at a couple of" and "in a couple of"?

"At a couple of" typically refers to physical locations or specific instances, whereas "in a couple of" often refers to time frames or durations, such as "in a couple of days".