Author Topic: Quantify Several (Read 6900 times)

kojabu · « **on:** November 03, 2005, 09:01:47 AM »

Just wondering what your definition of several is. I need to do something for "several weeks" so yea.

Porter · « **Reply #1 on:** November 03, 2005, 09:04:13 AM »

Several > a few

kojabu · « **Reply #2 on:** November 03, 2005, 09:04:55 AM »

Right but how many?

Porter · « **Reply #3 on:** November 03, 2005, 09:06:14 AM »

It's a few more than a few.

kojabu · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2005, 09:07:12 AM »

But how many is a few?

Brinestone · « **Reply #5 on:** November 03, 2005, 09:08:37 AM »

Depends on the context. Several M&Ms might be a small handful. Several SUVs might be three or four. I would say in terms of weeks, you should expect to do whatever you're doing for no fewer than three and no more than nine weeks.

Porter · « **Reply #6 on:** November 03, 2005, 09:13:48 AM »

A few less then several. Duh.

pooka · « **Reply #7 on:** November 03, 2005, 09:33:20 AM »

Several is 5-7 ish. A few is generally 3 in my book. For reasons that go into my bizarre family history, many = 2 and many many by extension = 4. And because of our landlord on Crete, plenty = hella too much, as in "Americans pay plenty taxes".

Jonathon · « **Reply #8 on:** November 03, 2005, 11:22:39 AM »

a couple = 2 and only 2
a few = 3 or 4
several = more than a few and less than 10

However, it depends on what's being measured and what's expected. "A few" and "several" might refer to the same quantity, but the former downplays the number while the latter emphasizes it.

Porter · « **Reply #9 on:** November 03, 2005, 11:27:36 AM »

I think that several has to be less than a few of the next level.

For example, several days could be up to around 9 days, because that's still not up to a few weeks, but 20 days is not several days because that's a few weeks. Once you're up to a few weeks, you are greater than several days.

Mr. Anderson · « **Reply #10 on:** November 03, 2005, 02:32:09 PM »

A couple is two, a few is three or four, several is five to (about) seven, and many is beyond that.

pooka · « **Reply #11 on:** November 03, 2005, 02:55:55 PM »

Porter has an excellent point. It applies to ounces and cups as well.

Porter · « **Reply #12 on:** November 03, 2005, 03:42:01 PM »

Yup. 15 ounces is still just several ounces.

Teshi · « **Reply #13 on:** November 03, 2005, 06:09:43 PM »

Several = about seven.
A few = two or three

rivka · « **Reply #14 on:** November 03, 2005, 06:42:53 PM »

Quote

Yup. 15 ounces is still just several ounces.

OH! You mean weight, not volume.

couple = 2
coupla = 2-3 (my dad is from Brooklyn

)
few = 3-5
several =3-7, usually; but Brinestone is right about context

If someone told me they were going away for several weeks, I would expect that to mean 4-5 or so.

pooka · « **Reply #15 on:** November 03, 2005, 06:43:17 PM »

No, fifteen ounces is a Lawyer's pint. Unless you are talking about net weight and not fluid ounces. Also, if you've had a baby you count every darn ounce like it was gold.

kojabu · « **Reply #16 on:** November 03, 2005, 06:58:57 PM »

So it looks like my cartiledge piercing will need to be salted for at least 2-3 more weeks to make this a nice round "several." (it's already been three)

Porter · « **Reply #17 on:** November 03, 2005, 07:32:22 PM »

Quote

If someone told me they were going away for several weeks, I would expect that to mean 4-5 or so.

That fits right with my theory.

Samarkand · « **Reply #18 on:** November 15, 2005, 01:16:28 AM »

Good Lord, I've been sucked into another forum.

A couple = 2.
A few = 3-4.
Several = 4-5.

And I could make further comments regarding many and lots in terms of trolls in Terry Pratchett, but anyone reading this either already got it or is way lost.

Regarding the fact that you were told to soak your cartilage for "several" weeks: I suggest that you do salt water soaks until it doesn't hurt. And should it hurt again, even a year or two later, do some more salt water soaks. I speak from experience. My poor little double-pierced ear would appreciate one right about now (about a year and a couple months since it was pierced), but I'm too tired to lie on the floor with my ear in hot salty water.

kojabu · « **Reply #19 on:** November 15, 2005, 07:54:01 AM »

They told me to use a cotton ball for it...

pooka · « **Reply #20 on:** November 15, 2005, 08:29:11 AM »

Why am I imagining you with a bone through your nose?

kojabu · « **Reply #21 on:** November 15, 2005, 08:42:00 AM »

Me? Because I'm a cannibal?

<---wishes it were a cannibal

pooka · « **Reply #22 on:** November 15, 2005, 08:57:03 AM »

You'd also need a necklace with cat claws dangling from it. And a topknot. Big round earrings too.

Brinestone · « **Reply #23 on:** November 15, 2005, 09:04:54 AM »

Not cat claws. Lion claws.

sarcasticmuppet · « **Reply #24 on:** November 15, 2005, 09:10:26 AM »

or shark teeth.

Poll

How many is several?

Author Topic: Quantify Several (Read 6900 times)