for some nights

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for some nights" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a duration or frequency of events occurring over several nights. Example: "I have been feeling restless for some nights, unable to sleep properly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

-- Considerable excitement has arisen in Jersey City in consequence of groans, yells and unearthly sounds said to emanate from a church in the upper part of Jersey City for some nights past.

The New York Times

was nominated for Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "We Are Young," and Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for "Some Nights".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The crowd are young and hungry for some night-time distraction.

Independent

Maybe it's time for some night school courses.

Huffington Post

Most of the respondents (94%) indicated that they usually stay outdoors for some night hours (19.00 23.0000 hr) before sleeping (indoors) while a few others (6%) did not.

BMC Public Health

For some, night pain and lack of sleep was "what prompted me to go to the doctors in the first place" (I/V 17).

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

It is noteworthy for instance that irregular washing practices leaves an accumulation of dust which reduces the efficacy of the nets against the vector mosquitoes just as people who usually stay outdoors for some night hours may have been exposed to infective malaria mosquito bites during the latter part of this period before sleeping under the nets.

BMC Public Health

"I was getting very tired of the commute and wanted to rent a room for just some nights a week.

The Guardian - Money

You won't be home for dinner some nights and you might miss some soccer games on the weekend; these are the costs.

Huffington Post

The bar had different dress — or, rather, undress — codes for different nights: some nights no shirts; others no pants.

The New Yorker

Parterre tickets for "Carmen" on some nights this season range from $175 to $450.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for some nights" to indicate a limited but unspecified number of nights over which something occurs. Be mindful of context; if the number of nights is important, a more precise phrase might be better.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "for some nights" can sound vague in formal writing. Replace it with more specific durations like "for three nights" or "over several evenings" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for some nights" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the duration of an action or state. As Ludwig AI points out, it signifies an unspecified number of nights.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for some nights" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to denote a duration spanning an unspecified number of nights. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to indicate that an event happened over a few nights, without needing to be precise. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic writing. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science, understanding its function and alternatives enables more nuanced and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over a few nights

Emphasizes a short, unspecified duration.

during several nights

Highlights the occurrence across multiple nights.

for a couple of nights

Specifies a duration of two nights.

across certain nights

Focuses on specific nights within a period.

on particular nights

Similar to 'across certain nights', emphasizing specific instances.

for a handful of nights

Indicates a small number of nights, more informal.

throughout select nights

Highlights chosen or specific nights within a timeframe.

during a number of nights

Indicates an unspecified quantity of nights.

spanning several evenings

Replaces 'nights' with 'evenings', slightly more formal.

for a succession of nights

Emphasizes that the nights follow one after another.

FAQs

How can I use "for some nights" in a sentence?

You can use "for some nights" to indicate that something happened over a few nights, without specifying exactly how many. For example, "The strange noises persisted "for some nights", causing unease in the neighborhood."

What's a more formal alternative to "for some nights"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "over several nights" or "during a series of evenings" instead of "for some nights" to enhance clarity and precision.

Is it better to specify the number of nights instead of using "for some nights"?

It depends on the context. If the precise number of nights is important, specify it (e.g., "for three nights"). If the exact number isn't crucial, "for some nights" is acceptable.

What's the difference between "for some nights" and "every night"?

"For some nights" implies that something occurred on a limited number of nights, while "every night" means it happened on all nights within a given period. They have opposite meanings.