couple of frames

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "couple of frames" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of frames, often in contexts related to photography, video, or animation. Example: "I captured a couple of frames from the video to highlight the key moments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

This is just a couple of frames of her work.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I shot just a couple of frames, then went back to the UN guard.

The Guardian

"I went to get a couple of frames of him, and he just hit me".

The Guardian

Then, in the next couple of frames, she reaches the front door, opens it, and goes inside.

The New Yorker

On a given day, he can photograph anywhere between a couple of frames and a couple of rolls of film.

The New York Times

"But 98 percent of the time nothing happened and I returned with a couple of frames left unexposed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

His recent digital work has him using a long lens to take "a couple of hundred" frames of scenes like Times Square where only a sliver of pedestrians are in sharp focus, while the backgrounds goes soft.

The New York Times

It took me two days to remove two short bathroom walls and a couple of door frames, but the boards could have gone back into another wall -- if they hadn't become warped and twisted over the years to the point of being unusable.

The New York Times

"Back then, you wouldn't have batted an eyelid if someone walked down the road with a couple of picture frames under his arm," says a local woman, named Schmidt, who is in her 80s and moved to the neighbourhood in 1970.

The Guardian

After an hour of testing, Schweir found that a minuscule time variation -- a couple of videotape frames, or one-fifteenth of a second -- existed the farther a shot clock was located from the box on the scorer's table that emits the time signals.

The New York Times - Sports

Hence, a couple of consecutive frames must be used in each batch τ.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a short segment of a video or film, use "couple of frames" to indicate a very brief duration, typically implying a moment or a fleeting glimpse. It's especially useful when the exact duration isn't crucial, but the brevity is.

Common error

Avoid using "couple of frames" when you need to be precise about the number of frames or when referring to a larger, more substantial portion of video. The phrase suggests a very small number, and using it inaccurately can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "couple of frames" typically functions as a noun phrase or an adjective phrase modifying another noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English. It identifies a small quantity or a brief segment, often within the context of video, photography, or animation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

19%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "couple of frames" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a very short segment or a minimal selection, primarily in the context of video, photography, or animation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and the examples demonstrate its prevalence across news, academic, and scientific sources. While generally neutral in register, it is advisable to use more precise alternatives in highly formal settings. Related phrases include "few frames" and "pair of frames", offering similar meanings with slight nuances. When using "couple of frames", ensure that the implied quantity and brevity align with the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

few frames

Replaces "couple" with "few", indicating a small number of frames.

pair of frames

Substitutes "couple" with "pair", emphasizing the dual nature of the frames.

several frames

Uses "several" instead of "couple", suggesting a slightly larger but still indefinite number of frames.

handful of frames

Replaces "couple" with "handful", implying a small, manageable quantity of frames.

limited number of frames

More formal and explicit, indicating a restricted quantity of frames.

small selection of frames

Emphasizes that the frames are part of a selection, rather than just a quantity.

brief sequence of frames

Focuses on the frames being part of a sequence, highlighting their temporal aspect.

short series of frames

Similar to 'brief sequence', but emphasizes the sequential nature of the frames.

a couple of images

Replaces the term 'frames' with the word 'images' keeping the quantity untouched.

some frames

This phrase offers a less precise number of frames.

FAQs

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

You can use "couple of frames" to refer to a very short segment of a video or film, as in "I captured a "couple of frames" from the movie to show the special effect".

What's a more formal alternative to "couple of frames"?

While "couple of frames" is generally acceptable, in a more formal context, you might use "a limited number of frames" or "a brief sequence of frames" for greater precision.

Is it correct to say "a couple frames" instead of "couple of frames"?

While understandable, "a couple frames" is less grammatically standard than ""couple of frames"". The inclusion of "of" is generally preferred for grammatical correctness.

When should I use "few frames" instead of "couple of frames"?

Both "few frames" and ""couple of frames"" suggest a small quantity, but "couple" specifically implies two. If the exact number is not two but still very small, "few frames" might be more appropriate.