several counties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "several counties" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to multiple administrative divisions within a state or country. Example: "The new policy will affect several counties in the region, leading to changes in local governance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This has made several counties unhappy.

The New York Times

The Bank had branches in several counties.

Cornell University

But he said several counties still had little broadband coverage.

The New York Times

In several counties the increase was more than 1,000%.

The Economist

Several counties continued to count absentee ballots throughout the day.

The New York Times

"It is likely that several counties will do so".

The New York Times

Investigators from several counties now say it is clear that digoxin was Mr. Cullen's favorite weapon.

The New York Times

Parched communities in northern Florida have become tinderboxes, with almost daily brush fires in several counties.

The New York Times

Several counties in South Dakota with mostly Native American populations had the lowest average, 66.6 years.

The New York Times

Officials plan to recount by hand ballots in several counties starting today.

The New York Times

In Florida, state officials have tested 2,400 people for Zika across several counties.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

"Several" implies more than two but not a large number. If the precise number is known, consider stating the exact figure for clarity. E.g. "Four counties experienced power outages"

Common error

Avoid using "several counties" when the situation involves a vast majority or all counties within a region. In such cases, phrases like "most counties" or "a majority of counties" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several counties" functions as a determiner + noun, specifying an indefinite quantity of counties. According to Ludwig, this is grammatically sound. This indicates that the sentence is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "several counties" is a grammatically correct and frequently used way to refer to an unspecified number of counties greater than two. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is broadly applicable, with frequent use in news, media, academic, and wiki contexts. While alternatives like "various counties" or "a number of counties" exist, "several counties" offers a concise and widely understood way to convey this information. When using this phrase, consider the context to ensure clarity and avoid overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

various counties

Emphasizes variety and diversity among the counties.

multiple counties

Directly indicates a number of counties greater than one.

a number of counties

Highlights that the exact quantity is unspecified but more than a few.

certain counties

Implies specific, but unnamed, counties are being referenced.

some counties

Suggests a limited, indefinite number of counties.

a few counties

Indicates a small number of counties, less than "several".

numerous counties

Highlights a large quantity of counties.

a collection of counties

Suggests a group or set of counties considered together.

different counties

Focuses on the distinct nature of the counties involved.

selected counties

Highlights that the counties have been specifically chosen or identified.

FAQs

How do I use "several counties" in a sentence?

Use "several counties" to indicate that something affects or involves more than two but not a large number of counties. For example, "Several counties issued a state of emergency due to the storm".

What's the difference between "several counties" and "a few counties"?

"Several counties" implies a slightly larger number than "a few counties". While both indicate more than two, "several" suggests a moderate amount, whereas "a few" indicates a smaller, limited quantity.

What can I say instead of "several counties"?

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

Is it appropriate to use "several counties" in formal writing?

Yes, "several counties" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a neutral and clear way to indicate that more than two counties are involved without specifying the exact number.