several papers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "several papers" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to multiple documents, articles, or written works on a particular subject. Example: "The researcher reviewed several papers to gather information for the study."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Several papers printed it.

The Guardian

Several papers spurned the information.

The New York Times

He also wrote several papers about geophysics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Several papers picked it up," he said.

The New York Times

Their picture was featured in several papers.

The Guardian - Music

In France, several papers are kept alive by public subsidies.

The New York Times

He published several papers on the subject in 2010.

The New Yorker

Several papers "picked up" on them, as well they might.

The Guardian

And she has written several papers detailing how the mistake is made.

The New York Times - Health

Several papers carried hyperbolic leading articles attacking the possibility of section 40 being triggered.

The Guardian

Nevertheless, several papers suggest that such patients do suffer debilitating symptoms.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "several papers", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to academic research, news articles, or other types of documents. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "several papers" when you only have a vague recollection of a few sources. If you're unsure about the exact number, consider using qualifiers like "a few" or "some" to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several papers" functions as a noun phrase acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It identifies a quantity of written documents, whether academic, journalistic, or otherwise. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Science & Research

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "several papers" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for referring to multiple documents or articles. Ludwig AI confirms this. Its versatility makes it appropriate for diverse contexts, from academic research to news reporting. When using the phrase, ensure that the context makes it clear what type of documents are being referenced. While alternatives like "a number of papers" or "multiple papers" exist, "several papers" provides a balanced and widely accepted option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a number of papers

Emphasizes a quantity of papers without specifying an exact number, similar to the original phrase.

multiple papers

Directly indicates more than one paper, offering a straightforward alternative.

numerous papers

Suggests a large quantity of papers, adding emphasis on the abundance.

many papers

A simple and common way to indicate a large quantity of papers.

some papers

A general term that refers to an unspecified quantity of papers, usually more than two.

various papers

Highlights the diversity or variety among the papers, rather than just the quantity.

certain papers

Refers to specific, though unspecified, papers out of a larger set.

different papers

Focuses on the distinction and variety between the papers.

a few papers

Indicates a smaller, indefinite number of papers, implying less than 'several'.

selected papers

Implies that the papers have been chosen from a larger collection for a specific reason.

FAQs

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

You can use "several papers" to refer to more than two papers. For example, "Several papers have addressed this issue in recent years" or "The researcher cited "several papers on the topic"".

What is a more formal alternative to "several papers"?

While "several papers" is generally acceptable in most contexts, you could use "a number of papers" or "multiple papers" for a slightly more formal tone, especially in academic writing.

Is it better to say "several papers" or "many papers"?

Both "several papers" and "many papers" are correct, but "several papers" implies a smaller, more definite number than "many papers". The choice depends on the specific context and the degree of emphasis you want to place on the quantity.

Can "several papers" refer to newspapers as well as academic documents?

Yes, "several papers" can refer to newspapers, academic documents, or any type of written work. The context will usually make it clear which type of document is being referenced. For example, "Several papers carried hyperbolic leading articles" refers to newspapers.