Janeway Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Please define several. I already Googled it. I want everyone's personal take on it. In this context..."give me several dates you are available to interview" and the words "several dates" is underlined, how many dates would you provide? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Three if I had that many. If I didn't, I would give a couple (two) and wouldn't worry about it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 3 maybe 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Yes, 3ish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Three or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 I would give 3-4, up to 5. The busier I am, the more specific I would give. But I would also include more dates to allow ease of scheduling. If I could say... I am available any day of the week after 2pm, That would be sufficient. If I am available all day Monday/Tuesday and after 2pm on Wed, and after 3 pm Thurs day/ Friday. I would list all 5 options. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 I thought a couple was two, a few was three, and several was four. Many is five-plus. I have no idea where I got this from, but that's always been my understanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 More than three. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CadenceSophia Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 I believe several to mean three or more. I'd give three dates. That is plenty. If those don't work for the other party you can discuss again. I think more than three is overkill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 more than 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 More than two. One is "a" date. Two is "a couple of dates." So "several" is at least three. But I wouldn't go a lot more than that. I'd say several in this case means three to five. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 3 or more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 I think In some cases it depends on the item, but couple -- 2 few -- 3 several 4 + My exception is if an item generally comes in large groups, (like sequins or small beads if you are doing a craft) then a small amount that is really more than 10 of the item might qualify as a few, while a bigger pile might be several. If I asked for several dates, it's probably because I am juggling busy schedules. so I want at least 4 possible dates. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 3-5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 at least 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Mama Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 A couple = 2 A few = 3-4 Several = 5-7 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 I severely dislike the term under most circumstances though. Say what in hell you mean. If you want three, ask for three. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 (edited) Normally I think several is 3-5. But in the special context of "provide several dates you are available for an interview" I would give a wider range of dates because I would want to make it as convenient to my potential employer to interview me. Edited January 10, 2017 by regentrude 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Three or four. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 More than 2, less than 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 I think 3-4. When we were kids and my mom was pushed by us to define the word, she said "several" means 3 when it's cookies, 30 when it's minutes. I continue to believe that is a great definition. As to dates, however, I would think it is more like cookies. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjzimmer1 Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 3 or more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooksandBoys Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 3-5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Three to five. Off to google now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifera33 Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 I would understand it at 3+, but it always seems to me that several should be more than that. Maybe seven. I mean, it's almost the same word! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 (edited) 3-5, but it could be more, depending on the situation. Edited January 10, 2017 by J-rap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Three or four. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 In a job interview context, 3-5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksr5377 Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 3-5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 2= couple 3=few 4-11=several 12=a dozen So I'd give 4-11 dates :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cave canem Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 (edited) l Edited January 10, 2017 by cave canem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 A long list of dates would seem awkward to me but you might provide windows--so, I would be available January 15-17, 21st, or 24th-25th. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking Squirrels Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Normally I think of around 5-7 when I hear several. But in this context, I would probably try for 4 or 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 three or more. I would prob give 3 dates when I was available and tell them I have more options if what I suggested wasn't enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Please define several. I already Googled it. I want everyone's personal take on it. In this context..."give me several dates you are available to interview" and the words "several dates" is underlined, how many dates would you provide? two or three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyJoy Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 I generally use several to mean 3-4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 4-6 ish. Three is a few in my book, not several. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 I'd give 3-5 allowing as much flexibility as possible in circumstances like this (i.e. I'm available Mon-Thurs 8 am - 3pm for the next 2 weeks). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Personally, I think few is 3 - 4, several is 5 - 7, and many is more than that. But it's rough - I don't look askance at people who say "few" for as many as five or six items, or "several" for anywhere between two and twenty items or more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 I agree with 3-4 depending on how many you have available. You could also offer a range, such as "my schedule is currently open every Tuesday and Thursday from __ to __." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Wow. My experience has been "your interview will be on x day with a choice of time only if you weren't the last one contacted eg. 9, 10 or 11". In this case I would go for something general like already suggented - all day Mon/Tues or afternoon Wed to Fri for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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