three copies of

USAGE SUMMARY

"three copies of" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when referring to multiple copies of something, for example, "Please make three copies of the document."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Three copies of Special Order 191 survive.

The New York Times

But only three copies of it.

The Guardian - Sport

Only three copies of the flag are thought to exist.

The New York Times

I was given three copies of his book for Christmas.

The Guardian - Film

Affected children are born with three copies of the chromosome instead of the usual two.

The New York Times - Science

Integration plasmids were constructed for transformation with up to three copies of the crtYB gene.

Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics

They should be included in all three copies of the portfolio.

Stanford University

Three copies of the essay are due in the Slavic departmental office by April 12 , 2019

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

In one shop I counted no fewer than three copies of Mein Kampf.

Independent

Chimpanzee, orangutan and rhesus macaque have five, four and three copies of SPANX-N genes, correspondingly.

Plosone

We therefore similarly adopted three copies of ERE in our construct.

BMC Biotechnology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying the number of copies, ensure clarity regarding what is being copied. For example, specify "three copies of the document" instead of just "three copies".

Common error

Avoid using alternative prepositions like "from" or "in" instead of "of" after "three copies". It should always be "three copies of" something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "three copies of" functions as a determiner phrase specifying the quantity of duplicates or instances of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, with examples ranging from academic papers to news articles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

28%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "three copies of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression indicating a specific quantity of duplicates or instances. According to Ludwig AI, its versatility is reflected in its widespread application across various domains, including news, science, academia, and general instructions. While semantically similar phrases like "three instances of" or "three versions of" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When using the phrase, ensure clarity about what is being copied and avoid incorrect preposition usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

three instances of

Replaces "copies" with "instances", focusing on the occurrence rather than the duplication.

a trio of copies of

Uses "a trio of copies" to add a stylistic variation while maintaining the same meaning.

three duplicates of

Uses "duplicates" instead of "copies", highlighting the identical nature of the instances.

three versions of

Substitutes "copies" with "versions", implying that the instances might be slightly different.

three reproductions of

Employs "reproductions" instead of "copies", focusing on the act of replicating something.

three examples of

Replaces "copies" with "examples", emphasizing that the instances are representative of a larger set.

threefold replication of

Emphasizes the act of replication being threefold.

threefold duplication of

Emphasizes the act of duplicating being threefold.

three iterations of

Replaces "copies" with "iterations", suggesting a series of successive versions.

threefold instance of

Emphasizes the instance being threefold.

FAQs

How is "three copies of" used in a sentence?

The phrase "three copies of" is used to indicate that there are three duplicates or instances of something. For example: "Please provide "three copies of the report"."

What can I say instead of "three copies of"?

You can use alternatives like "three instances of", "three versions of", or "three duplicates of", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "three copy of" instead of "three copies of"?

No, "three copy of" is grammatically incorrect. The plural form "copies" should be used when referring to more than one copy. The correct phrase is "three copies of".

What is the difference between "three copies of" and "multiple copies of"?

"Three copies of" specifies an exact quantity, while "multiple copies of" indicates an unspecified number greater than one. The former is precise, while the latter is general.