several strokes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "several strokes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to multiple instances of strokes, such as in sports, art, or medical situations. Example: "The artist used several strokes to create depth in the painting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She also had several strokes.

The New York Times

Ms. Shange had several strokes in 2004.

The Washington Post

"Paul Weiss has cost me several strokes".

The New York Times

His family said he had had several strokes.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr Pleus said that Bowen had suffered several strokes.

The Times

"My father had several strokes and heart attacks.

The Guardian

But he had had several strokes and was practically vegetative.

The New Yorker

Madison suffered several strokes on death row that left him with vascular dementia.

Nature

Then Danielle suffered several strokes, with the third one causing mobility and speech problems.

The Guardian

The cause was complications from several strokes, a friend, Laura Brown, said.

The New York Times

These sessions lasted well into his 80's, until he suffered several strokes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a medical condition, use "several strokes" to accurately convey the recurrence of the event. For instance, "The patient suffered "several strokes" after the surgery".

Common error

Avoid using "several strokes" when only one stroke has occurred. It's important to differentiate between a singular event and multiple occurrences to maintain clarity and accuracy. If only one stroke occurred, use "a stroke" or "one stroke".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several strokes" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb. It's used to denote multiple instances of a cerebrovascular accident or, metaphorically, repeated actions or attempts, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "several strokes" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe multiple occurrences of a stroke, whether in a medical context or metaphorically. Ludwig's AI confirms the phrase's validity and provides numerous examples across diverse sources, predominantly in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects multiple events, and be mindful of the context to choose the most appropriate alternative if needed. The phrase is suitable for both formal and informal communication, maintaining a generally neutral tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

multiple strokes

Replaces "several" with "multiple", emphasizing the number of strokes.

a number of strokes

Uses "a number of" to indicate an unspecified quantity of strokes.

numerous strokes

Implies a large quantity of strokes.

a few strokes

Indicates a small quantity of strokes.

a series of strokes

Suggests a sequence or progression of strokes.

various strokes

Highlights the diversity or variety of strokes.

some strokes

Indicates an indefinite quantity of strokes.

repeated strokes

Emphasizes the repetitive nature of the strokes.

several painting strokes

Specifies the context as painting.

several swimming strokes

Specifies the context as swimming.

FAQs

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

You can use "several strokes" to describe multiple instances of a stroke, whether in a medical context (e.g., "The patient experienced "several strokes" after the surgery") or in other contexts like art (e.g., "The artist used "several strokes" to create the background").

What are some alternatives to "several strokes"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "multiple strokes", "a number of strokes", or "repeated strokes".

Is it correct to say "several strokes" or "a few strokes" when describing a minor incident?

While both phrases are grammatically correct, "several strokes" generally implies a more significant or noticeable impact than "a few strokes". Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the severity of the situation.

What's the difference between "several strokes" and "a stroke"?

"Several strokes" indicates that the event has occurred more than once, while "a stroke" refers to a singular occurrence. Using the correct phrase is crucial for accurate communication.