couple of speeches

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "couple of speeches" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two or a few speeches, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "During the conference, I attended a couple of speeches that were particularly inspiring."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

"They made a couple of speeches," Mr. Silver said.

The New York Times

I did a couple of speeches for them, I do speeches for other people.

The Washington Post

In his last couple of speeches, he promised various tribes riches and lands, using the old divide and rule tactic.

The Guardian - Opinion

He has still not spoken in the main chamber since his arrest, but has made a couple of speeches in committee meetings and tabled some written questions.

Independent

At a recent performance, the pacing seemed off and a couple of speeches were a bit overblown, but the play's excellence was undeniable.

The New York Times

By 1989, when Mr. Reagan accepted $2 million to give a couple of speeches in Japan, tarnishing the office he had held, the illusion was shattered.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

A couple of speech and language therapists visited, brandishing two versions of the alphabet (upper and lower case) in plastic laminate.

The Guardian

Of course, the record growth that Madison Avenue is enjoying is also encouraging executives to travel for a couple days of speeches, sun and the libations that characters in the film "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead" celebrate as "boat drinks".

The New York Times

(Whitemore's play miraculously compressed the decision problem and the Enigma decoding into a couple of brief speeches without any real distortion).

The New Yorker

The result was that our combined efforts found absolutely nothing in the book, aside from a couple of minor speeches, that we did like.

The New Yorker

In a couple of recent speeches over the past month in Chicago and New York, Janet Yellen, chair of the Federal Reserve, made clear that the US central bank is going to focus attention on movements in a broad variety of labour market measures.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "couple of speeches", ensure the context clearly indicates that you are referring to two speeches. If the number is ambiguous, consider using "few speeches" or "several speeches" for greater clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "couple of speeches" when you actually mean more than two. While "couple" can sometimes informally mean 'a few', it's best to reserve it for when you are specifically referring to two speeches to prevent miscommunication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "couple of speeches" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It identifies a specific, small quantity of speeches. The Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

News & Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "couple of speeches" is a grammatically sound and neutrally toned phrase used to indicate that someone delivered two speeches. While Ludwig confirms its validity and common usage, it's best to reserve this expression for exactly two speeches. For ambiguous or larger quantities, consider alternatives such as "few speeches" or "several speeches". Predominantly found in News & Media, this phrase offers a clear and concise way to specify the number of speeches in various communication contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

few addresses

Replaces "couple" with a more general term for a small number.

small number of addresses

Replaces "couple" with "small number" for a more precise but similar meaning.

pair of orations

Uses a more formal term ("orations") for speeches and "pair" instead of "couple".

handful of talks

Substitutes "couple" with "handful" to denote a small quantity, while also uses "talks" instead of "speeches".

several presentations

Replaces "speeches" with "presentations" which implies more structured delivery.

a couple of public speaking engagements

Emphasizes the nature of the speeches as public events.

two lectures

Specifies the type of speech as "lectures", which are typically more academic.

brief series of remarks

Implies the speeches were part of a related sequence of comments.

limited number of remarks

Uses a more formal and cautious tone, implying brevity.

occasional speaking appearances

Highlights the infrequency and nature of the speeches as appearances.

FAQs

How to use "couple of speeches" in a sentence?

You can use "couple of speeches" to indicate that someone gave two speeches. For example, "He gave a "couple of speeches" at the conference, focusing on the future of technology."

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

You can use alternatives like "few addresses", "pair of orations", or "handful of talks" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "couple of speeches" in formal writing?

While "couple of speeches" is grammatically correct, it might be considered informal for some academic or business writing. In such cases, consider using more formal alternatives like "small number of addresses" or "several presentations".

What's the difference between "couple of speeches" and "few speeches"?

"Couple of speeches" specifically means two speeches. "Few speeches" indicates a small number, but doesn't specify exactly how many, implying it could be more than two but still a small quantity.