two to three times

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of sentence 'two to three times' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when talking about anything that needs to be repeated a few times, such as actions or behaviors. For example: "I have to remind my child to brush his teeth two to three times a day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Attending rounds are held two to three times per week.

Yale University

Incomes are two to three times the Russian average.

The Economist

R.R.: I practice yoga two to three times a week.

The New York Times

Deputies patrol the town two to three times a day.

The New York Times

Frequency: Two to three times on each side, daily.

The New York Times

Repeat two to three times daily, and again before bed.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I swim two to three times a week.

The New York Times - Style

"I pray two to three times a day.

The Guardian - Music

Nowadays, I train two to three times a week.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You generally attend the program two to three times a week for eight weeks or more.

University of California, Berkeley

The fence should be inspected two to three times per year, and after storms.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying a frequency, ensure the context clarifies whether it's per day, week, month, or year to avoid ambiguity. For example, "I exercise "two to three times" a week" is clearer than "I exercise "two to three times".

Common error

Avoid assuming "two to three times" implies a continuous duration. It indicates a frequency of separate occurrences. If you mean a continuous period, use phrases like 'for two to three hours' instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two to three times" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier of frequency or quantity. As shown in Ludwig, it indicates how often an action is performed or the extent to which something is multiplied.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

28%

Science

24%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "two to three times" is a common and versatile way to express frequency or quantity, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as an adverbial modifier, serving the purpose of approximating the number of occurrences or the magnitude of something. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, from academic writing to casual conversation. While widely used, it's important to ensure context clarifies the period (day, week, month, etc.) to which the frequency applies. Keep in mind the phrase indicates separate occurrences, not a continuous duration. Ludwig's examples highlight its use across News & Media, Academia, Science, and even Wiki sources, confirming its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

between two and three repetitions

This is a more explicit and precise alternative emphasizing repetition.

two or three instances

This alternative is more formal and focuses on the specific occurrences of something.

two or three separate occasions

This highlights that the events happened at different times.

a couple of times

This suggests a slightly less precise quantity, implying approximately two occurrences.

in a couple of instances

Similar to "a couple of times" but phrased with a more formal tone.

double or triple

This emphasizes a proportional increase or repetition, not necessarily an exact count.

several times

This is a more general term indicating more than two occurrences but without a specific upper limit.

on a few occasions

This phrase emphasizes the occurrence of an event across multiple instances.

a handful of times

This indicates a small number of occurrences, typically less than five.

twice or thrice

Uses the archaic term 'thrice' to indicate three times, making the phrase sound old-fashioned.

FAQs

How can I use "two to three times" in a sentence?

You can use "two to three times" to indicate the frequency or quantity of something. For example, "I visit my parents "two to three times" a month" or "The recipe calls for repeating the process "two to three times".

What phrases are similar to "two to three times"?

Similar phrases include "a couple of times", "several times", or "on a few occasions", depending on the desired level of precision.

Is it better to use "two to three times" or a more specific number?

Using "two to three times" is suitable when an approximate range is sufficient. If precision is crucial, providing exact numbers is preferable. For instance, if accuracy is important, instead of saying "I called him "two to three times"", specify if you called twice or thrice.

Can "two to three times" be used for quantities other than frequency?

Yes, it can be used to express quantities or multiples. For example, "The new model is expected to cost "twice as much", or even "two to three times" the price of the old one".