several thousand students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "several thousand students" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a quantity of students that is more than a few but not specified exactly, typically in contexts like education, enrollment statistics, or event attendance. Example: "The university reported that several thousand students attended the orientation session this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Several thousand students were moved to shelters.

The New York Times

Several thousand students occupied buildings belonging to the provincial government.

The Economist

Of course, if you put several thousand students anywhere, there will be drunken behaviour.

Independent

There are several thousand students kettled at the bottom of Whitehall, near Parliament Square.

The Guardian

"Here we have a book by a reputable writer," Mr. Kerry told several thousand students at the afternoon campus rally.

The New York Times

Despite heavy rains, several thousand students protested against tuition increases and divestment in higher education Wednesday in London, according to organizers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

In May 2009, shortly after the artist published a list of several thousand student casualties, the authorities closed down his blog.

The Economist

In both cases, several hundred students stayed home.

The New York Times

Several hundred students between the ages of ten and eighteen arrived at the Army Public School.

The New Yorker

Several hundred students gathered outside Wits' Great Hall auditorium, the scene of recent bitter clashes.

The Guardian

There were several hundred students in the Islamic group, including many women.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "several thousand students", ensure the context requires a sense of approximation rather than an exact number. It's best suited for situations where the precise figure isn't known or isn't necessary for the reader to understand the point.

Common error

Avoid using "several thousand students" when a more specific number is available. If you know the exact count or a narrower range, using that information will lend greater credibility to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several thousand students" typically functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It quantifies a group of students, indicating a large but imprecise number. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable and understandable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "several thousand students" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a relatively large, but not precisely defined, group of students. It's often found in news reports and academic discussions, where providing an exact number isn't necessary or available. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable. When writing, make sure that you use approximations only when precision is not required. If you need alternatives, consider options like "thousands of students" or "a few thousand students", depending on the context. Keep in mind also that the best sources for this expression are authoritative news outlets such as The New York Times, The Economist, and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thousands of students

Uses a more general term indicating a large, unspecified number.

a few thousand students

Indicates an approximate number, slightly less precise than "several thousand".

many students

A broader term indicating a large but unspecified number of students.

numerous students

Synonymous with "many", but slightly more formal.

a large number of students

More formal and less concise way of indicating a considerable quantity.

considerable number of students

Similar to "a large number of students" but emphasizes the significance of the quantity.

substantial student body

Refers to the size of the student population in a collective way.

hundreds upon hundreds of students

Emphasizes a very large quantity, though less precise.

a significant portion of the student population

Focuses on the number of students as a percentage of the whole.

a multitude of students

A more literary and less common way to express a large number.

FAQs

How do I use "several thousand students" in a sentence?

Use "several thousand students" to describe a large group of students, usually in contexts like school enrollment, event attendance, or survey participation. For example, "Several thousand students attended the university's welcome event."

What's a good alternative to "several thousand students"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "thousands of students", "a few thousand students", or "a large number of students".

Is it appropriate to use "several thousand students" in formal writing?

Yes, "several thousand students" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when the exact number is unknown or not crucial. However, if precision is required, provide a more specific figure if possible.

When should I use "several thousand students" instead of "thousands of students"?

"Several thousand students" implies a slightly more specific, though still approximate, quantity than "thousands of students". Use "several thousand" when you want to suggest a number closer to a specific range within the thousands.