over several courses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "over several courses" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occurs or is distributed across multiple stages, levels, or parts of a process, often in an educational or culinary context. Example: "The curriculum is designed to build knowledge progressively over several courses, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

My hosts include the young, VW Touareg-driving son of the village chief.Sitting in the courtyard, over several courses that end with sweet grapes from vines hanging overhead, the villagers half-joke among themselves about the benefits of kidnapping me for ransom.

The Economist

In summary, we would recommend that carboplatin therapeutic drug monitoring approaches are utilised in preterm and full-term neonates whenever feasible, particularly bearing in mind the marked increases in carboplatin clearance observed over several courses of treatment.

European Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Both the development of the measuring instrument and the analysis over several course years hold out the potential for understanding the complexity of the process.

BMC Medical Education

Single dose regimens for IPT would be preferable to a course given over several days.

Plosone

We defined and tracked several configurations over the course of several days.

Security Informatics

"Their team came by for executive meetings several times over the course of several months".

TechCrunch

Members of both sexes may copulate with several mates over the course of several years.

Wikipedia

He later found out that she had stolen over $2 million from several businesses over the course of several years!! Jay came out with a book about his experiences.

Huffington Post

This final collection volume was dialyzed against TRIS buffer with several buffer exchanges over the course of several days to remove the glucose solution.

Biomedical Optics Express

This process is repeated several times a day, over the course of several days.

The New Yorker

Clearly, a new approach is in order, and I expect to see several innovations over the course of the next several years.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "over several courses", ensure the context clearly indicates a sequence of learning or stages of a process. This makes the sentence more precise and understandable.

Common error

Avoid using "over several courses" when the subject matter is covered in a single, comprehensive course. Instead, opt for phrases like "within the course" or "during the semester" to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over several courses" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. It specifies the duration or scope of an action or concept across multiple courses. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "over several courses" is grammatically correct and functions as a prepositional phrase. As Ludwig AI suggests, its purpose is to indicate that an action or topic occurs throughout the time of multiple courses. It is used neutrally in scientific and news contexts. Consider alternatives like "across multiple courses" or "throughout several courses" to provide subtle differences in meaning. The frequency of use is rare, but its clarity makes it well-suited for technical contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

across multiple courses

Focuses on the distribution or spread of something throughout different courses.

throughout several courses

Emphasizes the continuity or duration of something across the courses.

spanning several courses

Highlights the extent or reach of something that covers multiple courses.

during numerous courses

Indicates that something happens at multiple points within those courses.

over a series of courses

Stresses the sequential nature of the courses in relation to the topic.

in multiple class sessions

Refers specifically to individual class meetings and the content covered within them.

during several sessions

Highlights that the content can take place in an amount of meetings.

covering various courses

The content has something to do with the material and courses that are implied.

in a range of courses

The range of the courses can vary and that's why this alternative is different.

across a few courses

This alternative highlights that the amount of courses are not many.

FAQs

How can I use "over several courses" in a sentence?

You can use "over several courses" to describe a curriculum that builds knowledge incrementally, as in "The curriculum is designed to build knowledge progressively "over several courses", ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject".

What are some alternatives to "over several courses"?

Alternatives include "across multiple courses", "throughout several courses", or "spanning several courses", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. All of them can be found in Ludwig's examples.

Is it appropriate to use "over several courses" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "over several courses" is more suited for formal or academic writing. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives may be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "over several courses" and "in several courses"?

"Over several courses" implies a progression or development across those courses, while "in several courses" simply indicates that the topic is present within those courses without necessarily implying a progression.