couple of discussions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "couple of discussions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two or a few conversations or meetings about a particular topic. Example: "We had a couple of discussions about the project timeline and budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"Did it bring up a couple of discussions we hadn't had before?

The New York Times - Sports

Outred, of Christie's, said the living artists' reputations was of "very real concern" and "we have had a couple of discussions with artists.

The Guardian - Arts

"I was speaking with the boss, we had a couple of discussions together and he explained to me why I hadn't played too much until here.

The Guardian - Sport

After a couple of discussions, Henderson was asked to join Fringe.

Forbes

"We had a couple of discussions in the past where it wasn't approved," he told me.

TechCrunch

I'm leading that group and we've had a couple of discussions already - one formal meeting and one conference call.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The company has confirmed the amount and agreed to share more — but it didn't confirm the valuation, which I hear ended up at $180 million pre-money after a couple months of discussions with many interested investors.

TechCrunch

Mr. Rubenstein, who participated in a couple of panel discussions at the private equity conference on Wednesday, showed off his comedic flair.

The New York Times

After a couple of Skype discussions with her boyfriend, Jonas Kakoschke, and with a social-worker friend, Golde Ebding, the trio threw together a Wordpress site to help others do the same.

Vice

When I was writing my 2009 book The Sound of Broadway Music: A Book of Orchestrators and Orchestrations, we had a couple of long discussions; not only about the work of her father, but about the world that she observed as a child.

Huffington Post

After another couple minutes of discussion, the group altered its original decision: it would recommend reducing the prison population by 1,200, but retaining the re-entry services some had been ready to axe a moment before.

University of Pennsylvania

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "couple of discussions" when you want to indicate that a small number of discussions took place, usually two, but potentially a few.

Common error

Avoid using "couple of discussions" when the exact number of discussions is important or known. In such cases, specify the exact number for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "couple of discussions" functions as a quantifier phrase, indicating a small number of conversations or meetings. It modifies a noun to specify the quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "couple of discussions" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that a small number (typically two) of conversations or meetings occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is perfectly fine. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts but also appears in formal business settings and scientific literature. When writing, it is important to use the phrase when you want to indicate that a small number of discussions took place. Alternatives such as "several conversations" or "a few chats" can be used depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several conversations

Indicates more than two conversations.

a few chats

More informal term for discussions.

multiple talks

Highlights the act of speaking.

various dialogues

Suggests a formal exchange of ideas.

some deliberations

Implies careful and thorough discussions.

brief meetings

Focuses on the meeting aspect of discussions.

a series of exchanges

Highlights back-and-forth communication.

occasional discourse

Suggests formal and structured communication.

repeated consultations

Emphasizes seeking advice or information.

periodic reviews

Highlights scheduled and regular discussions.

FAQs

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

You can use "couple of discussions" to indicate that two or a few discussions have taken place. For example, "We had a "couple of discussions" about the budget before reaching an agreement."

What are some alternatives to "couple of discussions"?

Alternatives include "several conversations", "a few chats", or "multiple talks" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it more appropriate to say "a couple discussions" or "a couple of discussions"?

"A "couple of discussions"" is the correct and idiomatic way to express this phrase in English. "A couple discussions" is grammatically incorrect.

When should I use "couple of discussions" instead of "many discussions"?

Use ""couple of discussions"" when referring to a small, specific number (usually two or a few). Use "many discussions" when the number is larger and not precisely known or relevant.