couple of studies

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "couple of studies" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of studies, typically two or three, in a context where you are discussing research findings or evidence. Example: "A couple of studies have shown that regular exercise can improve mental health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Langer had already undertaken a couple of studies involving elderly patients.

The New York Times - Magazine

A couple of studies showed that auditory processing of sounds presented concurrently with one's own actions is attenuated.

Biological Psychology

In a couple of studies, effective antidepressant treatment including electroconvulsive therapy led to an increase in BDNF serum levels.

Journal of Affective Disorders

That's been the belief, but a couple of studies haven't found an association between napping and complaints about nocturnal sleep.

Harvard University

You can't just take a couple of studies and say, 'Therefore this is true.' " THAT'S not to say, Dr. Unruh stresses, that women in pain aren't underserved.

The New York Times - Health

There have been at least a couple of studies on animals suggesting that Celebrex could be harmful to the cardiovascular system.

The New York Times

A couple of studies in sub-Saharan Africa had suggested it led to an increase as a result of the shrinking of contraception provision by NGOs.

The Guardian

There were a couple of studies that have come out recently in terms of survival rate for cancer that confirms this.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, Clinton made several factual errors, offered questionable claims about a couple of studies, and ended up giving a misleading assessment of her loss.

The Washington Post

In a couple of studies the network and causal connectivity was studied using fMRI by concentrating the analysis on the spikes and not on the background oscillations.

Clinical Neurophysiology

"What will sway A.C.O.G. are a couple of studies in progress showing a potential long-term neurological benefit," Dr. Raju said.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "couple of studies", ensure that the context clearly benefits from specifying that the number of studies is small and limited. If the exact number isn't crucial, alternatives like "a few studies" or "several studies" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "couple of studies" when referring to a large or unspecified number of studies. "Couple" implies a small, definite quantity, typically two or three. Using it loosely can mislead readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "couple of studies" functions as a determiner phrase specifying the quantity of research papers being discussed. As Ludwig AI explains, the expression is acceptable and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

47%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "couple of studies" is a common and acceptable way to refer to a small number of research papers, typically two or three. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness in written English. It is most frequently encountered in science and news media contexts, with a neutral to professional register. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the limited number of studies being referenced and consider alternatives like "a few studies" or "several studies" if the exact quantity isn't crucial or if the number is slightly larger. Be aware that using "couple" when referring to a large number of studies would be incorrect and misleading.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few studies

Emphasizes a small quantity but is slightly less specific than "couple".

handful of studies

Similar to “a few” but slightly more informal

two or three studies

Provides a more explicit range, clarifying the exact quantity.

several studies

Suggests a slightly larger number than "couple", implying more than two or three.

a pair of studies

Uses a more formal and less common synonym for "couple".

limited number of studies

Highlights the scarcity of research on a topic.

some studies

A more generic way to indicate that research exists, without specifying the exact number.

a small body of research

Refers to the collective amount of research as being limited.

initial studies

Indicates that the research is in an early stage.

preliminary studies

Implies that the studies are exploratory and not yet conclusive.

FAQs

What does "couple of studies" mean?

The phrase "couple of studies" means a small number of studies, typically two or three, that are being referred to collectively.

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

You can use "couple of studies" to introduce or reference a limited number of research papers, for instance: "A "couple of studies" "have shown" a correlation between diet and mental health".

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

You can use alternatives like "a few studies", "several studies", or "limited number of studies" depending on the context.

Is "couple of studies" formal or informal?

The phrase "couple of studies" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. While not overly formal, it's commonly used in academic, scientific, and news reporting.