couple of paper

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "couple of paper" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would be "a couple of pieces of paper" or "a couple of sheets of paper." Example: "I need a couple of pieces of paper to write down my notes."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

By the time the two of them are finished with each other, there'll be nothing left but a plate of bones and a couple of paper napkins.

The New Yorker

(Kulick did not meet the president and first lady, but sat behind them and has a cellphone picture of the back of their heads. She also "stole" a couple of paper hand towels from the bathroom as mementos).

The New York Times - Sports

Matchbox Theatre is an homage to those miniature cardboard kits still sold in old-fashioned toy shops, which are folded and glued to create a tiny stage, a proscenium arch, a backdrop and a couple of paper actors.

The Guardian - Books

Although Japanese officials are used to rotating into new jobs every two or three years, they typically do not take along more than a couple of paper bags when they move.

The New York Times

For Mardi Gras, Roger made a couple of paper masks to cheer them up, but he "couldn't get no glitter"; they shared a single strand of red plastic beads.

The New Yorker

In "Railroad Station, Memphis" (1955), a Walker Evanesque image at Laurence Miller, someone has left on a wooden bench in a pristine waiting room an expensive looking suitcase, a coat, a hat, a wrapped package and a couple of paper bags of stuff.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

At his presentation in the West Village on Tuesday, Mr. Wu showed a couple of paper-thin cashmere T-shirts that were printed to create the illusion of intarsia pastel stripes.

The New York Times

A couple of papers performed volte-faces, and like a shoal of fish, the public turned.

The Guardian

But I'm tired of the recent burst of over-interpretation of a couple of papers examining aspects of clouds in the context of a changing climate.

The New York Times

Too many postgraduate students work themselves to exhaustion trying to add a couple of papers to their CV so they can one day get tenure.

The Guardian

(The beer's awful, but that's another story).I could buy a couple of papers at the panadería and head back home.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use a countable noun after "couple of". For paper, use "sheets" or "pieces" to make it countable. For example, "a couple of sheets of paper" is correct.

Common error

Avoid using uncountable nouns directly after "couple of" without a countable unit. Saying "couple of paper" is grammatically incorrect. Instead, specify the unit, like "couple of sheets of paper".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "couple of paper" functions incorrectly as a quantifier due to improper grammar. According to Ludwig, this phrase is not correct in standard written English. Paper is an uncountable noun, so it requires a countable unit (sheets or pieces) to be grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "couple of paper" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI highlights, standard English requires a countable unit after "couple of" when referring to paper, such as "sheets" or "pieces". To correctly express the idea of a small quantity of paper, use phrases like ""couple of sheets of paper"" or ""couple of pieces of paper"". Avoid using the phrase "couple of paper" to maintain grammatical accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

couple of sheets of paper

Adds "sheets of" to correct the grammar, specifying the form of paper.

couple of pieces of paper

Adds "pieces of" to correct the grammar, specifying individual portions of paper.

few sheets of paper

Uses "few" instead of "couple", maintaining similar meaning and correcting the grammar.

few pieces of paper

Uses "few" instead of "couple", maintaining similar meaning and correcting the grammar.

some paper

General term indicating an unspecified amount of paper.

handful of paper

Indicates a small quantity of paper that can be held in one hand.

stack of paper

Implies multiple sheets are arranged on top of each other

reams of paper

Indicates a large quantity of paper that can be multiple sheets

pad of paper

Implies the paper is a notebook or similar

ream of paper

Refers to a large quantity of paper, typically 500 sheets.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "couple of paper"?

The correct way to express the idea is to say "a "couple of sheets of paper"" or "a "couple of pieces of paper"". These phrases use countable nouns to correctly quantify the paper.

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

Instead of "couple of paper", you can say "few sheets of paper", "few pieces of paper", or simply "some paper" depending on the context.

Why is "couple of paper" grammatically incorrect?

"Couple of" requires a countable noun. "Paper" is an uncountable noun, so you need to specify a countable unit, such as "sheets" or "pieces", to make the phrase grammatically correct.

Is there a situation where "couple of paper" would be acceptable?

No, "couple of paper" is generally not considered acceptable in standard written or spoken English. You should always use a countable noun after "couple of", such as ""couple of sheets of paper"".