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Question: When does something stop being "a few" and start being "several"? And at what point does "several" end and "many" begin?

Comments

[rpeate.livejournal.com]

A couple is two. A few is three. Several is four to seven. Many is eight or more.

[phibby.livejournal.com]

Usually, I think of "a few" as about three, while "several" is four and up, though sometimes I'll use "a few" with four.

[sporks5000.livejournal.com]

It really depends on what your talking about and how many of that thing the average person sees as "a lot". I see a few marbles being four or less, and a few grains of sand probably being twenty or less, are just a few examples.

I think that there should also be "a number" between a few and several. I've seen "a number" used a few times, not as often as "few" which I've seen used several times, and "several" which I've seen used a number of times. "Many", really is used quite a lot.

I wonder how much a lot is. I have a friend who's an artist, so I'll find out soone enough. people always talk about drawing lots, so I'll have her draw me a few.

[sporks5000.livejournal.com]

okay... I suppose that could have been funnier.

[ursamajor]

heh, i have strange determinations:

"a couple" - two
"several" - three to fourish (usually three)
"a few" - no less than four, no more than like seven or eight
"quite a few" - not as large a quantity/percentage as "many," but still significant.
"many" - applies both absolutely (high number) and relatively (significant percentage of a given population).
"most" - i try not to use this unless i'm talking about at least 60% of a given group.

[rpeate.livejournal.com]

A couple is two. A few is three. Several is four to seven. Many is eight or more.

[phibby.livejournal.com]

Usually, I think of "a few" as about three, while "several" is four and up, though sometimes I'll use "a few" with four.

[sporks5000.livejournal.com]

It really depends on what your talking about and how many of that thing the average person sees as "a lot". I see a few marbles being four or less, and a few grains of sand probably being twenty or less, are just a few examples.

I think that there should also be "a number" between a few and several. I've seen "a number" used a few times, not as often as "few" which I've seen used several times, and "several" which I've seen used a number of times. "Many", really is used quite a lot.

I wonder how much a lot is. I have a friend who's an artist, so I'll find out soone enough. people always talk about drawing lots, so I'll have her draw me a few.

[sporks5000.livejournal.com]

okay... I suppose that could have been funnier.

[ursamajor]

heh, i have strange determinations:

"a couple" - two
"several" - three to fourish (usually three)
"a few" - no less than four, no more than like seven or eight
"quite a few" - not as large a quantity/percentage as "many," but still significant.
"many" - applies both absolutely (high number) and relatively (significant percentage of a given population).
"most" - i try not to use this unless i'm talking about at least 60% of a given group.