couple of paragraphs

USAGE SUMMARY

"couple of paragraphs" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it any time you want to refer to a few sentences or a short section of a text. For example, "I was able to answer the question in only a couple of paragraphs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This is about a couple of paragraphs," Rogge said.

The New York Times - Sports

It takes a couple of paragraphs to explain it.

The New York Times - Tech

"On a whim, I wrote a couple of paragraphs and mailed them in," he wrote.

The New York Times - Books

It's fine to keep the posts short (just a couple of paragraphs).

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For a long period, we worked for a broadcaster who used to send us a couple of paragraphs.

The New Yorker

"His death would not result in more than a couple of paragraphs in the Key West Citizen," Williams wrote.

The New York Times - Arts

(Warning: there is going to be a good deal of grammar in the next couple of paragraphs).

Independent

But then here comes a story — maybe only a couple of paragraphs in that story — and you are knocked over.

The New Yorker

Booth's brutal dismissal of my home country in a couple of paragraphs plays to our innermost fears.

The Guardian

Here are a couple of paragraphs from it: "Reading, at least reading live authors, should be fun.

The Guardian - Books

LETTER FROM BERLIN devotes a couple of paragraphs to observations of life in East Berlin: making rounds of night spots, mentions jazz outfits.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "couple of paragraphs" when you want to indicate a short, easily digestible portion of text without being overly precise about the exact number of paragraphs involved.

Common error

Avoid using "couple of paragraphs" too frequently in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using more specific terms like "two paragraphs" or more general terms like "a short section" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "couple of paragraphs" functions as a quantifier followed by a noun. It is an idiomatic expression used to indicate a small, indefinite number of paragraphs within a text. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "couple of paragraphs" is a correct and frequently used phrase to refer to a short section of text. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose more specific alternatives like "few paragraphs" or "short section" when precision is needed. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, and to a lesser extent, in academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

few paragraphs

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

two paragraphs

Specifies the exact number of paragraphs being referenced.

several paragraphs

Replaces "couple" with "several", suggesting a slightly larger, indefinite number of paragraphs.

small number of paragraphs

Expands "couple of" into a more descriptive phrase.

a handful of paragraphs

Uses "handful" to indicate a small, manageable quantity.

short section

Uses a more general term, "section", to refer to a portion of text that may or may not be composed of full paragraphs.

brief passage

Emphasizes the brevity of the text segment.

a few sections

Replace with sections

the next few paragraphs

Indicates paragraphs to come

limited number of paragraphs

Limited quantity of paragraphs

FAQs

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

You can use "couple of paragraphs" to indicate a short section of text, as in, "The author addresses the issue in a "couple of paragraphs" on page 12."

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

Alternatives include "few paragraphs", "short section", or "brief passage", depending on the context and desired level of specificity.

Is it better to say "couple of paragraphs" or "two paragraphs"?

Both are correct, but "two paragraphs" is more precise. Use "couple of paragraphs" when the exact number isn't crucial or to convey a sense of approximation.

When is it appropriate to use "couple of paragraphs" in formal writing?

While acceptable, "couple of paragraphs" might be considered slightly informal. In highly formal contexts, consider using "two paragraphs" or "a short section" for greater precision.