more than several

USAGE SUMMARY

'more than several' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to an unspecified number greater than a few. For example: "More than several people expressed their interest in the program."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Carroll has accomplished more than several battalions.

The Washington Post

The electrical stimulus usually lasts no more than several seconds.

The New Yorker

For highly-heterogeneous permeability fields more than several hundreds of iterations might be required.

Journal of Computational Physics

More than several dozen aluminum alloys are used in different areas of manufacturing and technology.

Casting Aluminum Alloys

The Pentagon has estimated that Mr. Sadr's forces might number no more than several thousand.

The New York Times

Lawyers say there is no reason why the process should take more than several weeks.

The Guardian

The reactor core would be no more than several metres wide and about ten metres long.

The New Yorker

They're "for," not "to," her, though more than several could have begun as apologies.

The New York Times - Books

We produce more than several other leading research nations – Canada, France and Germany.

The Guardian

At Princeton, there were no more than several dozen black and Latino students when she entered.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But Scottland's purses were never more than several thousand dollars, forcing him to scrape by working as an exterminator.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "more than several" to indicate a quantity that is greater than a few, but not a large or indefinite number. It's useful when you want to be vague but still imply a non-trivial amount.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on vague quantifiers like "more than several" in formal or scientific writing. Instead, strive for more precise numbers or specific descriptions when possible to enhance clarity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than several" functions as a quantifier, specifying an indefinite quantity greater than a few. Ludwig shows numerous examples where this phrase is used to indicate a moderate amount that is more than just a handful.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

38%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more than several" is a versatile quantifier used to indicate a quantity greater than a few but not an overwhelmingly large number. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While appropriate for neutral registers, it might be less suitable for highly formal or scientific contexts where greater precision is required. If greater clarity or formality is needed, consider alternatives such as "a number of" or "numerous".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more than a few

Uses "few" instead of "several", maintaining a similar level of generality.

quite a few

Adds emphasis to the quantity, suggesting it is noticeable but not overwhelming.

a good few

Similar to "quite a few", mostly used in British English.

more than a handful

Replaces "several" with a more informal term emphasizing a small quantity.

a number of

Employs a more formal and common way to express a quantity greater than two.

a significant number

Highlights the importance or impact of the quantity.

various

Indicates multiple items or instances, differing in specificity.

numerous

A more formal synonym for "many", suggesting a considerable quantity.

many

A simpler and more direct way to express a large quantity.

plenty of

Indicates an ample or abundant quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "more than several" in a sentence?

The phrase "more than several" is used to indicate a quantity greater than a few. For example, "More than several people attended the meeting".

What's the difference between "more than several" and "many"?

"More than several" implies a quantity that is greater than a few but not a large, unspecified amount, whereas "many" indicates a large, indefinite number. "Many" is often a higher quantity than "more than several".

What are some alternatives to using "more than several"?

You can use alternatives like "a number of", "various", or "numerous" depending on the context.

Is "more than several" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "more than several" may sound less precise than alternatives like "a significant number" or "a number of", which might be preferable in formal writing for greater clarity.