several from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "several from" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to indicate a selection or group of items or people, but it lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "Several from the list of candidates were selected for interviews."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

Kate Kretz embroiders pillowcases with eyelashes and human hairs (including several from an ex-boyfriend).

The New York Times - Arts

We have several from microbreweries".

The New York Times

Hundreds responded, including several from outside Vermont.

The New York Times

The defection was one of several from Taliban territory.

The New York Times

The city received 18 submissions early, including several from overseas.

The New York Times

Bruins goalie Tim Thomas finished with 27 saves, including several from close range in overtime.

The New York Times

Ours, in Iraq, some 540 so far, including several from New York City.

The New York Times

He wrote more than 200 papers, of which several from the 1960s are deemed classics.

The New York Times - Science

The six interns, several from Minnesota, were chosen from the finalists.

The New York Times

The channel leaned heavily on non-NBC reporters, including several from the liberal magazine The Nation.

The New York Times

Next, look at several from the small central square in Zintan, in Libya's western highlands.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a quantity taken from a larger group, consider replacing "several from" with clearer alternatives like "some of" or "a number of" for improved grammatical correctness and clarity. For instance, instead of "several from the group," opt for "a number of people in the group".

Common error

Don't rely solely on vague quantifiers like "several" without providing context. Always clarify the specific quantity or proportion when possible. For example, instead of saying "several from the committee disagreed," specify "three members from the committee disagreed" to enhance precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several from" typically functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a selection or subset originating from a larger group. Despite its common usage, Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "several from" is frequently used across diverse sources like news and scientific publications, Ludwig AI considers it grammatically incorrect. It functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a subset originating from a larger group, aiming to specify a partial inclusion. However, alternatives such as "some of" or "a number of" are recommended for enhanced clarity and grammatical precision. Despite its common occurrence, opting for clearer alternatives can improve writing quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a number of

Uses a more general term "number" instead of "several", slightly broadening the scope.

some of

Employs "some", indicating an unspecified quantity, similar to "several" but less precise.

a few of

Utilizes "few", suggesting a small quantity, which can sometimes be interchangeable with "several".

various of

Replaces "several" with "various", emphasizing diversity within the selection.

multiple from

Mirrors the idea of "several" by using "multiple", directly indicating more than one.

selected from

Highlights the act of choosing, implying a deliberate selection from a larger set.

drawn from

Indicates extraction or derivation, focusing on the origin of the selected items.

a selection of

Replaces the whole expression with "a selection of", emphasizing the act of choosing.

certain number of

Highlights the fact there's a certain quantity of items/people but not all of them.

portion of

Highlights the fact that only a part of the total has been taken into account.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "several from"?

Alternatives include "some of", "a number of", or "a few of" depending on the desired level of specificity.

Is "several from" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "several from" is often considered grammatically questionable. It's generally advisable to use more precise and standard alternatives like "some of".

How can I use "some of" instead of "several from"?

Replace "several from the list" with "some of the items on the list" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

What's the difference between "several from" and "many from"?

"Several from" indicates more than two but not a large number, while "many from" suggests a larger, less defined quantity.