several hundreds

USAGE SUMMARY

"several hundreds" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a general number of items that involves hundreds, such as "There are several hundreds of students enrolled in this school."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Estimates vary from several hundreds to several hundreds of thousands (Hong Kong has a population of about seven million).

The New York Times

"At home, I have several hundreds of books.

The New Yorker

It represents several hundreds of millions of francs.

The New York Times

Several hundreds of tonnes of sarin.

BBC

This becomes impractical beyond several hundreds.

Advanced Engineering Informatics

Such activity would correspond to several hundreds of patient doses.

EJNMMI Research

Those applications – often several hundreds – form large software landscapes.

Information and Software Technology

Several hundreds of joints are involved in one apparatus generally.

Cryogenics

It could come to several hundreds of thousands of pounds".

BBC

The permeability of benzene ranged from several hundreds to several thousands Barrers, and that of cyclohexane and n-hexane ranged from several decades to several hundreds Barrers.

Polymer

Differences in the order of several hundreds of the Sun–Jupiter distances were also encountered.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "several hundreds", consider the context to ensure it aligns with the intended level of formality. It works well in news articles, scientific papers, and general writing.

Common error

Avoid using "several hundreds" when you have exact figures. If you know the precise number, state it directly instead of using an approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several hundreds" functions as a quantifier, indicating an approximate number in the hundreds range. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and common usage, showing it's often employed to describe quantities without precise enumeration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

76%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Reference

1%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "several hundreds" is a versatile and commonly used quantifier to denote an approximate quantity in the hundreds range. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent occurrence across diverse contexts, particularly in science, news, and business. When writing, it is best used when an exact figure isn't necessary and precision is not critical. Avoid overstating precision by opting for precise numbers when they are available. Alternatives like "a few hundred" or "hundreds of" can be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few hundred

Uses "a few" instead of "several", implying a slightly smaller quantity.

hundreds of

Emphasizes the quantity in hundreds, omitting "several".

some hundreds

Uses "some" instead of "several", which is less common.

a couple of hundred

Indicates closer to two hundred.

multiple hundreds

Highlights the multiplicity of hundreds.

around three hundred

Specifies a particular number within the hundreds range.

approximately four hundred

Provides a more precise estimation in the hundreds.

in the hundreds

Refers to a range of values within the hundreds.

two to three hundred

Gives a narrower range within the hundreds.

a significant number of hundreds

Emphasizes the importance of the quantity, which is in hundreds.

FAQs

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

"Several hundreds" is used to indicate an approximate quantity, greater than two hundred. For example, "There were several hundreds of attendees at the conference".

What can I say instead of "several hundreds"?

You can use alternatives like "a few hundred", "hundreds of", or "some hundreds" depending on the context.

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

Yes, "several hundreds" is acceptable in formal writing when an exact number isn't known or necessary. It's a common way to express an approximation in academic papers or reports.

What's the difference between "several hundreds" and "thousands"?

"Several hundreds" refers to a number between roughly 300 and 900, while "thousands" indicates a quantity of 1,000 or more. Use "several hundreds" for smaller approximations and "thousands" for larger ones.