couple of occasions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "couple of occasions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to two or a few instances of something happening. Example: "I have visited that restaurant on a couple of occasions, and I always enjoy the food."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We've talked on a couple of occasions".

The New York Times - Sports

"There were a couple of occasions.

The Guardian - Sport

Brown has been almost famous on a couple of occasions.

Independent

I'd met him in Leeds on a couple of occasions.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

SK: On a couple of occasions I've shocked myself.

The Guardian - Books

On a couple of occasions, Manning threw long.

The New York Times - Magazine

"We've been padlocked on a couple of occasions," he said.

The New York Times

Casillas was forced to intervene on a couple of occasions.

The Guardian - Sport

He played for Scotland too on a couple of occasions.

The Guardian - Sport

There were a couple of occasions we felt we were close to ending it.

The New York Times

On a couple of occasions, he called Saddam "the guy who tried to kill my dad".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the context to determine if "couple of occasions" is the most appropriate phrase. While widely accepted, it can sometimes be replaced with a more precise or formal alternative for greater clarity.

Common error

While acceptable in general writing, avoid overusing "couple of occasions" in formal documents. Opt for more precise alternatives such as "on two occasions" or "in several instances" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "couple of occasions" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the frequency with which an action occurred. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

After analyzing numerous examples, Ludwig has determined that the phrase "couple of occasions" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, suitable for indicating that something has happened a few times. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While prevalent in news and media, more formal settings may benefit from alternatives like "on multiple occasions" or "in a few instances". Overall, it's a reliable phrase for conveying a limited repetition of an event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on multiple occasions

More formal and emphasizes that the events were distinct.

in a couple of instances

Slightly more formal alternative using 'instances' instead of 'occasions'.

few instances

Implies a slightly smaller number of times than "couple of occasions".

on two or three occasions

More precise than "couple", indicating a specific range.

several instances

Suggests a slightly larger, but still limited, number of times.

a few times

More informal way of expressing the same concept.

a handful of times

Informal and suggests a small number of occurrences.

more than once

Simple and direct way to indicate repetition.

at least twice

Emphasizes the minimum number of occurrences.

repeatedly

Implies a more frequent or consistent pattern.

FAQs

What does "couple of occasions" mean?

The phrase "couple of occasions" means that something has happened two or a small number of times. It's used to indicate that an event or situation has occurred more than once, but not frequently.

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

You can use "couple of occasions" to describe past experiences, such as "I've met him on a "couple of occasions"" or "She has helped me on a "couple of occasions" with my work."

What can I say instead of "couple of occasions"?

You can use alternatives like "few instances", "several times", or "on multiple occasions" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "couple of occasions" formal or informal?

The phrase "couple of occasions" is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for both informal and many formal contexts. However, for very formal writing, more precise alternatives like "on two occasions" might be preferred.