several journalists

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "several journalists" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a group of more than two journalists, typically in discussions about news reporting or media coverage. Example: "Several journalists attended the press conference to cover the announcement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Several journalists were arrested.

The New York Times

Several journalists have fled the country recently.

The New York Times

In 2012 the government released several journalists from prison.

The Economist

Police bundled away several journalists "for their own safety".

The Guardian

Several journalists were detained, apparently for unlawful assembly.

The Guardian

(After that performance, several journalists wrote asking whether they could come and work for him).

Independent

Several journalists were injured, two shot in the face at close range with rubber bullets.

The Economist

If you can cache it... ..... Several journalists began tweeting out guarded thoughts about Sunil's involvement.

The New York Times - Magazine

Getting through at all is rare, and several journalists were turned away at gunpoint on Wednesday.

The New York Times

But on Sunday, after several journalists' associations protested, there were indications that Mr. Perdriel might withdraw.

The New York Times

A few hundred, including several journalists, were arrested and some were beaten up.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "several journalists", ensure the context makes it clear that you are referring to more than two individuals, but not a large or indefinite number.

Common error

While "several" is acceptable in most contexts, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise quantifiers when possible or rephrase the sentence to use alternatives such as "a number of" or "multiple".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several journalists" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a group of reporters or media personnel, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples where they are subjects of actions like "were arrested" or objects of actions like "were injured".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "several journalists" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to a group of reporters or media personnel. As Ludwig AI shows, it's most frequently used in news and media contexts. While acceptable in most situations, it's best to be precise in formal writing. Consider alternatives like "a number of journalists" or "multiple journalists" for variety, and always ensure the noun is plural. The phrase signals a quantity greater than two but not a large or indefinite number.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a number of journalists

Replaces "several" with "a number", offering a slightly more formal tone.

multiple journalists

Uses "multiple" instead of "several", which is a direct synonym.

several reporters

Uses the synonym "reporters" instead of "journalists".

various journalists

Substitutes "several" with "various", implying a diverse group of reporters.

some journalists

Uses "some" as a general term for an unspecified quantity of journalists.

a group of journalists

More explicitly describes the reporters as a collective.

numerous journalists

Replaces "several" with "numerous", indicating a considerable number.

a few journalists

Employs "a few" to indicate a smaller group than "several".

many journalists

Replaces "several" with "many", suggesting a larger group.

a handful of journalists

Indicates a small, manageable number of journalists.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "several journalists"?

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

Is it correct to say "several journalist"?

No, it is incorrect. "Several" indicates more than one, so the correct phrase is "several journalists", with the plural form of the noun.

How do I determine if I should use "several" versus "many" journalists?

"Several" implies a smaller, more specific group than "many". Use "several" when the exact number isn't important, but it's understood to be more than two, and less than a large quantity that would warrant using "many".

Can "several journalists" refer to an exact number?

While "several" doesn't denote a precise figure, it usually implies a number between three and seven. If you need to specify an exact count, it's better to use a precise number such as "three journalists" or "five journalists".