several documents

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "several documents" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to more than two but not many documents in a context where you are discussing multiple items or files. Example: "The committee reviewed several documents before making their final decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Analysis of documentation: Several documents produced during the intervention implementation (checklist for the intervention fidelity report, summaries of team meetings, etc).

BMC Health Services Research

Several documents address these matters.

The New York Times

There are several documents connected to Thomond.

Cornell University

Several documents survive but they remain open to interpretation.

The Economist

Several documents and publications with scientific focus, specifically physics.

Cornell University

The envelope contained several documents, he said, including one titled "Treatment for a Screenplay".

The New York Times

In fact, there are several documents that come close to being constitutional textbooks.

Independent

Rosenberg eventually ferreted out from Musa's papers several documents concerning the appointments.

The New Yorker

Several documents carefully compare state regulations, the Verizon contract provisions, Cablevision's comments and Verizon's rebuttals.

The New York Times

The prosecution in the Astor trial still had several documents to enter into evidence.

The New York Times

It includes several documents that one would expect to find only in museums.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "several documents", ensure the context clarifies whether the exact number is important. If precision matters, specify the exact quantity. Otherwise, "several" implies more than two but not many.

Common error

Avoid using "several documents" when you are referring to a large quantity. If the number of documents is substantial, use phrases like "many documents" or "a large number of documents" to accurately convey the volume.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several documents" functions as a noun phrase, where "several" acts as a determiner modifying the noun "documents". This phrase commonly indicates a quantity greater than two, but not a large number. Ludwig examples confirm usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Academia

31%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "several documents" is a versatile phrase used to denote more than two, but not many, documents across a broad range of contexts. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in News & Media, Academia, and Science. When choosing alternatives, consider options like "a number of documents" or "multiple documents" for similar meanings. Be mindful of the quantity you wish to convey to ensure accuracy. Given the prevalence of this phrase in varied sources, it remains a reliable choice for expressing quantity in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a number of documents

Emphasizes an unspecified quantity of documents, similar to "several", but may suggest a slightly larger quantity.

multiple documents

Highlights the presence of more than one document, focusing on the multiplicity aspect.

various documents

Indicates a variety or assortment of documents, adding a nuance of diversity in content.

numerous documents

Implies a larger quantity than "several", suggesting a considerable number of documents.

a few documents

Suggests a smaller quantity than "several", indicating a limited number of documents.

some documents

Refers to an indefinite but relatively small quantity of documents.

a collection of documents

Emphasizes the idea of gathering documents as a unit.

a range of documents

Highlights a selection or spectrum of documents, suggesting a diversity of topics or types.

a set of documents

Implies a group of documents that belong together or are related.

a selection of documents

Highlights that the documents are chosen from a larger pool for a specific purpose.

FAQs

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

Use "several documents" when referring to more than two, but not a large number of documents. For example, "The researcher reviewed "several documents" before reaching a conclusion".

What are some alternatives to "several documents"?

Alternatives include "a number of documents", "multiple documents", or "various documents", depending on the specific context.

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

Yes, "several documents" is appropriate for formal writing. However, for greater precision, consider specifying the exact number or using "a number of documents" if the quantity is important.

What is the difference between "several documents" and "few documents"?

"Several documents" indicates a quantity greater than two, while "few documents" suggests a smaller, limited number. Use "several" when the exact number is not critical, and "few" when emphasizing the scarcity of documents.