Comments on: Interpretation of “Several”

By: LEWIS

LEWIS — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 12:30:06 +0000

This “word” evokes immense personal anguish (use of quotation marks to emphasise it’s incompetency in contemporary language). I have many strong conceptual disbeliefs linked to this ambiguous topic, all leading to negative realisations. In my opinion this term should be eradicated from all forms of use. Linguistics and life would be much better with its nullification. It is a perfect example of everything wrong in society, resorting to vague deceptive misinformation.

By: Nelson Bulmash

Nelson Bulmash — Sat, 12 May 2018 15:35:02 +0000

When I was in elementary school, my teachers taught that two made a couple, three-four represented a few, and several was represented by five- eight.

By: chrizzle

chrizzle — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 23:39:26 +0000

I was taught in school that several is 3 or 4 in quantity.

By: CR

CR — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:50:44 +0000

How about we just stop being lazy and count. Ha!

By: L'rece Morgillo

L'rece Morgillo — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 03:38:32 +0000

My most disliked word because of it’s meaning.
Who the hell made up the meaning? This is a common sense issue here… we have words for 2= couple and for 3=few (or more)(or less)..whatever! but ask any kid who hasnt been ‘told’ and they’ll tell you it’s seven (or more) (or less).. ARGH! I’m a teacher.. I can’t stand this word because of it’s dumb ass meaning! (now breath slowly.. 1 2 3) .. ok i’m back.. lol.. thank you to all those who are agree =)

By: Steve N

Steve N — Sun, 24 May 2009 08:16:26 +0000

Several sounds like seven but probably isn’t because seven is many and definately not a few.

I’ve heard people say in conversation lately several billion and thats plenty and definitely more than enough.

My personal estimate of several’s value is 26 but I’ve been wrong before.

Thanks, I hope you found this helpful.

By: Joy M

Joy M — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:20:17 +0000

I was always taught:

2 = couple
3 or more = few and,
7 = several

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:58:20 +0000

2 = couple
3 = a few
4-7 = several
8 or more = many

By: Tom Watson

Tom Watson — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Huh, I was able to get it working in IE. Strange.

By: Mike Rundle

Mike Rundle — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I tried clicking on 147,548 but it wasn’t working, not sure why. I’m using Safari.

By: Martijn

Martijn — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

For me it’s more like ‘multiple’ so that means 2 or more..

By: Ryan Christensen

Ryan Christensen — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

For me:

A couple = 2
A few = 3
Several = 4, maybe more

.. and so on.. though it sort of depends on the situation. Several is generally a range that can be anywhere between 4 and 6.. perhaps 7. More than that is probably closing in on a "lot"..

By: Scott Smith

Scott Smith — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I said seven, because “seven” sounds like “several”

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’m with the camp that groups it alongside ‘couple’ and ‘few’. Although mine’s more like this (the groups overlap):

couple = 2-3
few = 3-4
several = 4-10 (so I picked 7)

By: Pat

Pat — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I always considered “several” to be approximately half of “seven”, since the words look like they’re derived from a common root. Since you’re usually talking about integers, that means 3 or 4.

I used to have a similar uncertainty with “couple”. I was working at a fast food place when I was 17 and this kid (appeared to still be in grade school) asked for a “couple of sodas”. I asked how many exactly and he gave this snide response: “A couple is 2 – me and my wife are a couple.” As if I was the moron for verifying how many sodas he was willing to pay for. The tone of his voice was so grating — he was clearly quoting some authority figure who’d been just as obnoxious to him.