several messages

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "several messages" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to multiple communications or pieces of information that have been sent or received. Example: "I received several messages from my colleagues regarding the upcoming meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

He failed to respond to several messages.

The New York Times - Sports

The last several messages posted are untrue".

The Guardian

Andersen executives did not return several messages".

The New York Times

He has left up several messages threatening suicide, however.

The New Yorker

Dr. Sacks did not return several messages seeking comment.

The New York Times

Neither Younger responded to several messages seeking comment.

The New York Times

Ms. Vulgamore did not respond to several messages.

The New York Times - Arts

Several messages left with All American were not returned yesterday.

The New York Times

Mr. Dowd did not respond to several messages seeking comment.

The New York Times

Mother Jones' media department did not respond to several messages.

The Guardian

Mr. Racicot did not return several messages left for him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "several messages" when you want to indicate that you have received or sent more than a couple of messages, but not an overwhelming number. It implies a notable, but not excessive, quantity.

Common error

Avoid using "several messages" when you only have one or two messages. "Several" implies a quantity greater than just a few, so ensure the number of messages aligns with the word's meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several messages" functions as a determiner phrase, where "several" modifies the noun "messages". It indicates a quantity greater than two but not a large amount. Ludwig confirms this usage with numerous examples from diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Social Media

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "several messages" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that a number of communications have been exchanged. According to Ludwig, this phrase is most frequently found in "News & Media", and it is generally considered to have a neutral register. When using "several messages", ensure the context aligns with its meaning, indicating more than just a few messages but not an overwhelming quantity. Alternatives like "a few messages" or "multiple messages" can be used for slight variations in emphasis or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few messages

Replaces "several" with "a few", indicating a smaller quantity of messages.

multiple messages

Uses the word "multiple" instead of "several", conveying the idea of more than one message.

numerous messages

Employs "numerous" to suggest a larger quantity of messages than "several".

a number of messages

Replaces "several" with "a number of", providing a more formal tone.

many messages

Uses "many" to express a large quantity of messages.

various messages

Substitutes "several" with "various", highlighting the diverse nature of the messages.

quite a few messages

Adds emphasis to the quantity of messages received.

a series of messages

Focuses on the sequential aspect of the messages.

a collection of messages

Highlights the group or compilation of messages.

a bunch of messages

Offers a more informal alternative, indicating a considerable number of messages.

FAQs

How do you use "several messages" in a sentence?

"Several messages" can be used to describe the quantity of communications received or sent. For example: "I received "several messages" from my colleagues today", or "He sent "several messages" to try and resolve the issue".

What can I say instead of "several messages"?

You can use alternatives like "a few messages", "multiple messages", or "numerous messages" depending on the context and the number of messages.

Is it more formal to say "several messages" or "multiple messages"?

"Multiple messages" tends to be slightly more formal than "several messages". Both are acceptable in most contexts, but "multiple" might be preferred in business or academic writing.

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

"Several messages" implies a smaller quantity than "many messages". "Several" suggests more than two but not a large amount, while "many" suggests a significant number.