Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
several percent
English answer:
a few percent
Added to glossary by
Noha Issa
Oct 28, 2006 21:23
17 yrs ago
7 viewers *
English term
several percent
Non-PRO
English
Medical
Medical: Dentistry
Dental materials
I am editing a text about dental materials. I have the following phrase :"The range of ethyl alcohol content is commonly from several percent to 30 percent"
Any suggestions about reconstruction of this phrase?
I have some doubt about"several percent"
Thank you in advance :)
Any suggestions about reconstruction of this phrase?
I have some doubt about"several percent"
Thank you in advance :)
Responses
| 4 +10 | a few percent |
Susanne Rindlisbacher
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| 4 +3 | See explanation below... |
Tony M
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Responses
+10
24 mins
Susanne Rindlisbacher
Portugal
Portugal
Specializes in field
Portugal
Quality and Dedication
Native in: German 
Works in: English to German, Portuguese to German, German, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
a few percent
There does not seem to ba anything wrong with "several percent" but there are many more Google hits for "a few percent"
From a few percent to as much as 50 percent of the ozone in the troposphere intrudes from the stratosphere. (The exact amount depends on location and time ...
earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/ChemistrySunlight/
Humidity then climbs from a few percent to 20-30%. This instantly intensifies the sauna's heat as if the temperature had increased drastically (although it ...
www.almostheaven.net/aho/saunaqa.htm
From a few percent to as much as 50 percent of the ozone in the troposphere intrudes from the stratosphere. (The exact amount depends on location and time ...
earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/ChemistrySunlight/
Humidity then climbs from a few percent to 20-30%. This instantly intensifies the sauna's heat as if the temperature had increased drastically (although it ...
www.almostheaven.net/aho/saunaqa.htm
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all :)"
+3
8 mins
See explanation below...
'several' as used here means an indeterminate small number.
By definition, it must be more than one.
And it might generally be accepted to possibly not more be more than 10, although there is no hard and fast rule here.
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Note added at 43 mins (2006-10-28 22:06:56 GMT)
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I think there is very little to choose between 'a few' and 'several', though it always seems to me that there is a VERY SLIGHT suggestion that 'a few' emphasizes the 'fewness' (i.e. not very many) whereas 'several' emphasizes the 'more than one-ness' — but that may just be a personal impression.
'Several books have gone missing from the library' somehow seems more important than 'A few books..."
But then again, you might say "A few people believe that the Earth is flat..." — with a slight implication that there are many more who don't... "If several people make the same claim, the authorities will have to sit up and take notice"
See what I mean?
By definition, it must be more than one.
And it might generally be accepted to possibly not more be more than 10, although there is no hard and fast rule here.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 43 mins (2006-10-28 22:06:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I think there is very little to choose between 'a few' and 'several', though it always seems to me that there is a VERY SLIGHT suggestion that 'a few' emphasizes the 'fewness' (i.e. not very many) whereas 'several' emphasizes the 'more than one-ness' — but that may just be a personal impression.
'Several books have gone missing from the library' somehow seems more important than 'A few books..."
But then again, you might say "A few people believe that the Earth is flat..." — with a slight implication that there are many more who don't... "If several people make the same claim, the authorities will have to sit up and take notice"
See what I mean?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Can Altinbay
7 mins
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Thanks, Can! :-)
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| agree |
Mark Nathan
23 mins
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Thanks, Mark!
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| agree |
Jörgen Slet
10 days
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Thanks, Jörgen!
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