several items of a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'several items of a' is not correct and is not usable in written English.
In English, we would say "several of a [noun]." For example, "I saw several of a kind of bird I have never seen before."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The passages are oddly parallel, hence comparable, even in a formal sense; for both consist of the several items of a catalog under the general title of growing old.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mentiones several items of interest: an agreement drawn up by a group of local doctors in 1798, in which they outlined the fees they thought it fair to charge: a statement issued by a physician during the yellow fever epidemic in 1798.

The New Yorker

He also found several items of correspondence, including a letter to the pirate from Tobias Knight.

Wikipedia

He took with him several items of clothing, including "a white satin doublet cut with purple".

Wikipedia

It is done by wrapping several items of clothing tightly around a central object such as an organizer pouch (filled with more items - of course) to form a cylindrical shaped bundle.

WikiHow

You will need to wrap several items of clothing tightly around a central object such as an organizer pouch (filled with more items - of course) to form a cylindrical shaped bundle.

WikiHow

Manning has agreed not to contest the fact that when the Navy Seals left the compound they took with them several items of digital media that included a letter from Bin Laden to a member of al-Qaida, requesting that the member gather Department of Defense material posted to WikiLeaks.

The Guardian

Our study has suggested that GP principals may be able to collect several items of supporting information in an extended practice role in secure environments.

BMC Family Practice

I had a fanny pack when I started, and sent it home almost immediately — I stuffed a lot of junk in my handlebar bag — along with a heavy bike lock (I bought a slender cheapie instead and rarely let my bike out of my sight), and several items of clothing (T-shirts, undershorts, socks, a button-down shirt, the things you go overboard on no matter where you travel).

The New York Times

Yet a vexing fact remains: No one, including Mr. Khan, has been able to explain why embassy officials and the Chilean police found traces of the explosive tetryl on his cellphone, documents, a laptop and several items of clothing.

The New York Times

First, it was a retrospective analysis, so several items of information were not recorded.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "several items of a" in formal writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "several of a kind" or "a number of items".

Common error

The construction "of a" requires a noun to define what the "several items" belong to. Ensure the noun is correctly placed to avoid grammatical errors; use "several of a kind" instead of "several items of a".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several items of a" attempts to quantify multiple objects belonging to a certain class. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with a more suitable alternative.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

20%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "several items of a" is considered grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI. While it appears across various source types, including news, science, and wikis, its flawed structure necessitates the use of alternatives such as "several of a kind" or "a number of items". The best practice is to avoid this phrase in formal writing and always ensure grammatical accuracy by rephrasing. When aiming to express that multiple things share an attribute or origin, choosing a grammatically sound alternative ensures clarity and enhances the credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several of a kind

Uses "of a kind" to correctly indicate a group or category to which the items belong.

several of the same item

Specifies that the items are identical or belong to the same type.

a number of items

Replaces "several" with a more general quantifier while maintaining the meaning of multiple items.

multiple items of one sort

Emphasizes the variety of items within a single category.

various items of one type

Highlights the diversity within a specific type of item.

several types of items

Indicates that there are multiple categories of items.

a few of the items

Uses a weaker quantifier to express a smaller quantity of items.

some items of a set

Refers to a selection from a pre-defined collection of items.

various of the aforementioned items

Uses a more formal and specific way of referring to existing items.

a selection of items

Implies the items were chosen among others.

FAQs

What's grammatically wrong with "several items of a"?

The phrase "several items of a" is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage would be "several of a kind" or "several of the items" to indicate a selection from a group.

What can I say instead of "several items of a"?

You can use alternatives like "several of a kind", "a number of items", or "multiple items" depending on the context.

Is "several items of a" ever correct?

No, "several items of a" is generally not considered grammatically correct. You should rephrase the sentence for clarity and correctness, for example by saying "several of the" or "several of a kind".

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

Ensure that "several" is followed by "of" when referring to a group. For example, "several of the options are viable" or "I have several books on the topic".