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Sun 27 Feb, 2005 06:12 pm
I was given "a couple of " weeks to make a very important decision.
I want to know the exact number this phrase refers to.
May I wait till at least three weeks to reply them?
Thank you very much.
P.S. Is there any difference between "couple of" and "a couple of"?
"a couple" typically means two.
The strange thing about the world "couple," is the fact that different people interpret the word differently. Some folks think it means two, but others think it may mean up to four. For clarity, I would ask the person who used it to define it.
a professor (or alternatively maybe it is from the secretary) of the department of biology in university of Kansas, USA.
The words were like this:
we allow you at least of couple of weeks to respond to ....
Thank you again.
I'd interpret that "couple of weeks" to cover two weeks and perhaps a few days, but not three weeks. Think of two business weeks--five days each--with the necessary weekends thrown in.
Neoquixote wrote:a professor (or alternatively maybe it is from the secretary) of the department of biology in university of Kansas, USA.
The words were like this:
we allow you at least of couple of weeks to respond to ....
Thank you again.
They key phrase here seems to be "at least." So you've got two weeks at a minimum, probably more like three or more.
I'd go with MA's interpretation on this one, but to be on the safe side, no more than three.
I'm with the others in saying 2, but no more than 3.
And if you
really want to look good and score any points, turn your response in the day before the minimum two weeks.
Lady J, I thought about that too, but didn't post it. Good for you!
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