couple of sections

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "couple of sections" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two or a few sections of a document, report, or any other written material. Example: "In the report, I will focus on a couple of sections that highlight the key findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

A couple of sections have chromatic themes.

The New York Times - Arts

His ensemble played the first couple of sections of what is ultimately a four-hour systematic exhaustion of the compositional techniques he had become famous for.

The Guardian - Music

The first half breezes by more quickly than the second, which includes a couple of sections that, though sweetly intended, simply last too long.

The New York Times - Arts

Anyway, to speak of walking the wall is in an important sense meaningless, because apart from a couple of sections that are themselves reconstructions, the one-time "anti-fascist rampart" is all gone.

The Guardian

Over the next few weeks we are going to be trialling some changes to the comment system underneath some articles in a couple of sections on the site - Books and Music.

The Guardian

This account appeared in his diary dated 20 August 1918: [Major] Fryer told me to take a Lewis gun and a couple of sections and capture or knock out the [German] machine gun.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Late Monday morning, the college relented; Dean Watts said the department could add a couple of class sections for the best students in the next level down.

The New York Times

Today there are also a couple of preserved sections of the wall, a Checkpoint Charlie display, a dedicated museum and even kitsch celebrations of the infamous East German car, the Trabant.

The Guardian

There are also a couple of platforming sections that take place on crumbling segments, which invariably kill the player the first time round, making the game feel a little trial-and-error at times.

The Guardian - Tech

App developers are beginning to receive rejection notices from Apple's Review team that reference a couple of key sections of Apple's Developer Guidelines as to why their apps are not being accepted in the App Store.

TechCrunch

Here are a couple of choice sections.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "couple of sections", ensure the context makes it clear what the sections belong to (e.g., a document, a presentation, a building).

Common error

Avoid using "couple of sections" without specifying the whole the sections belong to. For example, instead of saying "Couple of sections are missing", specify which sections are missing from what document.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "couple of sections" functions as a quantifier phrase, specifying a small number of parts or divisions within a larger entity. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. This phrase is commonly used to indicate a limited subset of a whole.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "couple of sections" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a small number of parts or divisions within a larger context. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used. While the register is generally neutral, the phrase appears most frequently in news and media, as well as in scientific contexts, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the larger whole to which the sections belong. Alternatives like "pair of sections" or "few sections" can provide variety depending on context and desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pair of sections

Replaces "couple" with "pair", maintaining the idea of two specific sections.

few sections

Uses "few" to indicate a small number of sections, not necessarily limited to exactly two.

two parts

Substitutes "sections" with "parts", altering the terminology while preserving the meaning.

several sections

Emphasizes more than just two sections, suggesting a slightly larger quantity.

small number of sections

Expands the phrase to explicitly state a small quantity of sections.

some segments

Replaces "sections" with "segments", changing the specific term but keeping the general idea.

handful of sections

Replaces "couple" with "handful", suggesting a slightly more informal tone and a small quantity.

two divisions

Uses "divisions" instead of "sections", providing an alternative way to describe parts of something.

limited number of portions

More formal phrasing specifying a restricted quantity of parts.

select portions

Highlights that the sections are chosen specifically.

FAQs

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

You can use "couple of sections" to refer to two or a few parts of something. For example, "I reviewed a "couple of sections" of the report before the meeting".

What are some alternatives to "couple of sections"?

Some alternatives include "pair of sections", "few sections", or "several sections", depending on the number you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "a couple of sections" or "couple of sections"?

Both "a couple of sections" and "couple of sections" are grammatically correct and widely used. The inclusion of "a" depends on stylistic preference and context, although it is more formal.

What does "couple of sections" imply about the size or importance of the sections?

"Couple of sections" implies a small number of parts, but it doesn't necessarily suggest anything about their size or importance. Their significance is inferred from the surrounding context.