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How many is 'several'?

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  • Green CircleGreen Circle Posts: 5,192
    ZiggyStar wrote:
    If I said "I posted on the PJ forum several times this week"....or "I'm going on a holiday in several weeks", how many does several mean to you?

    To me, several is about 3 to 6...maybe 7 but that would be the limit. I've been asking around. To some people, several is 10....15....or even more. Wouldn't that be "many"? Few and several overlap a bit for me....but one person I spoke to said few is THREE and only THREE. Is it? It's amazing how greatly peoples' opinions vary. My opinion for the two statements I made above:

    A couple -- 2
    A few -- 3 or 4
    Several -- 3 to 6
    Many -- 10+

    So I turned to the dictionary:

    Few definition: More than 1 but indefinitely small in number
    Several definition: More than 2 but not many
    Many: A large indefinite number

    Wtf? There is no answer!!! *head explodes* :crazy:


    Ok so by your definition a few is 3 or 4 if that is the case how can several START with 3?? I would say you were right up to Several...

    Several is 5-7

    A lot...(not many) would be 8-10
    "...And I fight back in my mind. Never lets me be right.
    I got memories. I got shit so much it don't show."
  • ZiggyStarZiggyStar Posts: 14,328
    Green Circle wrote:


    Ok so by your definition a few is 3 or 4 if that is the case how can several START with 3?? I would say you were right up to Several...

    Several is 5-7

    A lot...(not many) would be 8-10

    Well the definition says several is more than 2....so why can't it be 3? haha

    To me, several is almost synonymous with few....but more! :lol:
    ★ 1995 - Brisbane ★ 1998 - Brisbane ★ 2003 - Brisbane ★ 2006 - Brisbane ★
    ★ 2009 - Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Christchurch ★
    ★ 2011 - EV Newcastle, Melbourne 1, Melbourne 2 ★
  • ZiggyStarZiggyStar Posts: 14,328
    Okay next question:

    How many is shitloads? :mrgreen:
    ★ 1995 - Brisbane ★ 1998 - Brisbane ★ 2003 - Brisbane ★ 2006 - Brisbane ★
    ★ 2009 - Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Christchurch ★
    ★ 2011 - EV Newcastle, Melbourne 1, Melbourne 2 ★
  • Green CircleGreen Circle Posts: 5,192
    ZiggyStar wrote:
    Green Circle wrote:


    Ok so by your definition a few is 3 or 4 if that is the case how can several START with 3?? I would say you were right up to Several...

    Several is 5-7

    A lot...(not many) would be 8-10

    Well the definition says several is more than 2....so why can't it be 3? haha

    To me, several is almost synonymous with few....but more! :lol:

    :shock: :roll:
    "...And I fight back in my mind. Never lets me be right.
    I got memories. I got shit so much it don't show."
  • rollingsrollings unknown Posts: 7,125
    seven. Its a derivative. I think it's French for seven
  • Green CircleGreen Circle Posts: 5,192
    ZiggyStar wrote:
    Okay next question:

    How many is shitloads? :mrgreen:


    LOL...depends on how large the item...

    30 2 pound bags Jelly beans...yeah shitloads

    30 pretzel sticks is a bunch :lol:
    "...And I fight back in my mind. Never lets me be right.
    I got memories. I got shit so much it don't show."
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,165
    It's two less then a handfull.
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • rollingsrollings unknown Posts: 7,125
    ZiggyStar wrote:
    Okay next question:

    How many is shitloads? :mrgreen:

    at least 101

    but common usage refers only to things that are very small in size or volume
  • rollingsrollings unknown Posts: 7,125
    Jason P wrote:
    It's two less then a handfull.

    yeah but you said handfull which changes the count.

    it's like "handfull" has extra fingers....it just doesn't count.
  • rollingsrollings unknown Posts: 7,125
    pandora wrote:
    he still stands wrote:
    well, when I girl asks me how many other girls I've slept with, I answer "several."

    so, "several" apparently means ummm, a lot more than 6. :D
    perhaps you should answer umpteen :?

    well this could get tricky is its less than eightumpteen
  • ZiggyStarZiggyStar Posts: 14,328
    Surely the size of the hands in a handful would also have to be taken into consideration....mine are tiny....my bf's are huge! ;)
    ★ 1995 - Brisbane ★ 1998 - Brisbane ★ 2003 - Brisbane ★ 2006 - Brisbane ★
    ★ 2009 - Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Christchurch ★
    ★ 2011 - EV Newcastle, Melbourne 1, Melbourne 2 ★
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,165
    ZiggyStar wrote:
    Surely the size of the hands in a handful would also have to be taken into consideration....mine are tiny....my bf's are huge! ;)
    This is the standardization:

    hamburger-helper-hand-del0311-lg.jpg
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • Green CircleGreen Circle Posts: 5,192
    ZiggyStar wrote:
    Surely the size of the hands in a handful would also have to be taken into consideration....mine are tiny....my bf's are huge! ;)

    :shock: dirty... :mrgreen:
    "...And I fight back in my mind. Never lets me be right.
    I got memories. I got shit so much it don't show."
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    Horos wrote:
    polaris_x wrote:
    it depends on the context ... you could use several to answer the following questions - all with different numbers:

    how many EV solo shows have you been to? (3)
    how many pairs of shoes do you have? (8)
    how many partners have you had? (25)

    it all really depends on what A LOT or Many is ... just slot 'several' between 'a few' and 'a lot' ...
    So you've seen a few EV shows, have several pairs of shoes, and many partners.

    no no ... those are strictly fictional numbers ...

    all i'm saying is it depends on what is considered few and what is considered many ... several is in the middle ...
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    ZiggyStar wrote:
    I know. That's why I asked people to answer in relation to the two statements I wrote in my first post.

    I personally don't think several could be an answer to the third question. But that's just me.

    in relation to your questions ... several times a week would mean 3 - 5 ... several weeks would be 3 - 6 (then you start going to months) ...
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