several meters

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "several meters" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a measurement of distance or length that is greater than a few meters, but not quite many meters. Example: The construction site spanned several meters, with workers scattered across the area.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Several meters of sea-level rise would ensue.

The New Yorker

She was several meters behind her nearest teammate.

The New York Times - Sports

Was it several centimeters or several meters deep?

Yale University

"Within a few minutes, the water level rose about several meters," he said.

The New York Times

The M.I.T. group has demonstrated efficiencies of 50percentt at ranges of several meters.

The New York Times - Tech

The Haystack radar generally measures from 5 mm to several meters.

Advances in Space Research

The HAX radar generally measures from 2 cm to several meters.

Advances in Space Research

It indicated that the saltation layer requires several meters to reach equilibrium state.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Witricity, an MIT spinout, uses another method called magnetic resonance to transfer power several meters.

MIT Technology Review

Comets that get closer than 1.0 AU may lose several meters of their surface.

Cornell University

Its fragments now lie scattered several meters to the southwest of its original locus.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "several meters" when you need to indicate a distance that is more than a few meters, but not a large, undefined quantity. It suggests a moderate, yet unspecified, length.

Common error

Avoid using "several meters" when a precise measurement is necessary. If accuracy is important, provide specific numbers (e.g., '7 meters') instead of relying on an approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several meters" functions as a quantifying adjective followed by a unit of measurement. It modifies a noun (often implied, like 'distance' or 'length') to indicate an approximate extent. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

31%

Academia

27%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "several meters" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to approximate distances or lengths. According to Ludwig, its usage is common across various contexts, including science, news, and academia. The phrase functions as a quantifying adjective, providing an estimate without requiring precise figures. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, it's most effectively used when an approximate measure is sufficient, and greater precision is not necessary. Alternatives such as "a few meters" or "some meters" can be considered depending on the intended nuance. The frequency of its use and the affirmation of its correctness make "several meters" a reliable choice for general writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few meters

Replaces "several" with "a few", indicating a slightly smaller, less precise quantity.

some meters

Uses "some" instead of "several", offering a more general, less specific quantification.

a number of meters

Replaces "several" with "a number of", making the quantity sound more formal.

multiple meters

Substitutes "several" with "multiple", emphasizing that there's more than one meter involved.

various meters

Emphasizes that the meters might be of different types or in different locations.

a range of meters

Highlights a span of measurement expressed in meters, rather than a fixed quantity.

a distance of several meters

Adds "a distance of" to provide more context about what "several meters" refers to.

a few metres distance

Changes both the quantifier and the unit's spelling while specifying it as a distance.

approximately several meters

Introduces "approximately" to show the measurement is an estimate.

on the order of several meters

Indicates a rough estimate, placing the measurement within a magnitude of meters.

FAQs

How can I use "several meters" in a sentence?

Use "several meters" to describe a distance or length that is more than a few meters but not precisely defined. For example, "The debris was scattered over "several meters" after the explosion".

What are some alternatives to using "several meters"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a few meters", "some meters", or "a number of meters" to express a similar idea.

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

Yes, "several meters" is suitable for formal writing when an approximate measure is sufficient. However, providing a precise measurement is preferable if accuracy is critical.

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

"Several meters" indicates a moderate quantity, typically more than a few but less than a lot. "Many meters" suggests a larger, less specific distance and often implies a greater scale.