Last weekend I got into a conversation with a friend about the exact meaning of few. Yes, sadly, this is how I spend my time. Like many people, she has a very definite idea of what few means: three or more. However, from an LSAT perspective, is that definitely correct? Actually, no.
While many would agree that few means three or more, the dictionary definition is, “not many but more than one.” So, a few cannot be one, but it can be as low as two. This surprises many people but highlights some of the dangers of taking the LSAT without preparing beforehand. You can easily end up misinterpreting words you use every day and are generally confident you understand. Why is this? Because the LSAT tends to use the logical or dictionary meaning of a word, which can vary from its colloquial meaning. Meaning, the way we use words in everyday conversations isn’t always the textbook version of it. It’s is an interesting concept, so let’s look at an example.
Consider “Some”
One classic example of word misinterpretation occurs with some. As we discuss in our LSAT Courses and in our Logical Reasoning Bible, some means at least one, possibly all. While most people understand the at least one part, it is the possibly all portion that surprises them. For example, if you tell your roommate that some of your friends are coming over to watch the game, most of us assume that means not all of your friends are coming. Otherwise, why wouldn’t you have said that all of your friends were coming. But logically speaking, some can include all. Therefore, in the LSAT world, it may be that all of your friends are coming over. The nice thing about some is that the definition is clear: always at least one, but maybe all. Other terms, such as few, several, and many are more relative. Let’s examine each.
Few
As mentioned above, few means two or more. But, this term, like the other terms below, is actually relative to the overall total. For example, if there are seven people at a dinner party, and a few of them are Republicans, then a few of them would definitely mean two or three of them (could few mean a majority (such as four)? In this situation, yes, because the overall group is small. But as the overall group becomes larger, few becomes increasingly unlikely to represent a majority.
On the other hand, if you were talking about a few of 20,000 concertgoers being unruly, then you might mean dozens, or maybe a hundred, but you probably mean just two. Two unruly concertgoers would translate into rare. So, the meaning of some terms of the LSAT can be sensitive to the contextual use of that term in relation to the overall size of the group. This can make the term difficult to interpret because its meaning is not constant, and it changes depending on group size.
Several
By definition, several means three or more (but often less than many, which we will cover next.) So, if several party-goers out of a group of nine were intoxicated, several could correctly be translated as three or four. If five party-goers were intoxicated, that would usually be stated as most. However, if several party-goers out of 100 people were intoxicated, that wouldn’t be three or four, but a slightly higher number. So again, this term is challenging to interpret under time pressure because its meaning can change, depending on the size of the group.
Many
Many is defined as a large number. But, what does a large number actually mean? In the case of a nine-person party, many might mean five, six, seven, or eight. However, in the case of 20,000 concertgoers, many would probably mean over 7,000 or 8,000–the exact number is indistinct. So again, the meaning of this term is somewhat dependent on overall group size.
The point to take away from this discussion is that the way words are used on the LSAT is not necessarily the same as the way you might typically use those words. And, when terms representing quantity are used, this is even more likely to be the case. Part of the value of studying the LSAT prior to taking the test is that you can familiarize yourself with the way the test makers use language, so you don’t have to think about these issues during the test. That kind of familiarity can make you a faster and more confident test taker.
Helen Ayres says
I have a tangential (but hopefully slightly related) question, Dave.
The GAD-7 is a clinical diagnostic tool designed to measure anxiety levels – a similar tool PHQ-9 measures depression using the same Likert-type scale.
Patients are presented with a series of statements examining symptoms over the previous week, then asked to respond with how many days they experienced each symptom eg:
“Over the last week, how often have you been bothered
by: Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge?”
Select one from the list:
• Not at all
• Several days
• More than half the days
• Nearly every day
The intervals have always bothered me – they do not reflect the days of the week proportionately. It’s as if someone just chucked a few (several?!) meanings into the air and grabbed randomly at some of them.
Can you take a cursory look and see what strikes you please, Dave?
By my reckoning:
• Not at all = 0 days
• Several days = 4-5 days?
• More than half the days = also 4-5 days?!
• Nearly every day = 6 days?
Where is the descriptor representing the interval between 0-4 days?! What happens if you *occasionally* are bothered by XYZ?
People are prescribed medication based on scores attributed to these answers, so it’s always rather troubled me…
Dave Killoran says
Hi Helen!
Yes, it’s not a great set of responses. I think “several” is the term that is different than what you propose, and is likely meant to cover “2-3 days.” While 2 is debatable there, it definitely includes 3.
Seems like at the minimum, 1 and 7 aren’t covered and some terms should be added to this!
thanks for the interesting question!
Max Todd says
Danuta nailed it! Just read what Russell Means said about the English language and you’ll see that our words were intentionally designed to be misinterpreted by lawyers and governments.
Word Smith says
I’ve always been told:
2 is a couple
3 is a few
4 is several
5 is a handful (five fingers?)
6 or more is many
Dave Killoran says
Agreed, I’ve heard this before as well. It’s a good example of how colloquial definitions are different than the strict logical definitions used on the LSAT. And also an example of how assuming you know how certain words will be used can hurt you if you don’t take the time to learn about how the LSAT works beforehand by prepping appropriately.
Thanks!
Mike says
I believe that many is relative to the total. For example, if you had 200 quarters and 8 of them were uncirculated, you would not say that many of them were uncircuclated.
Rdot says
How could you leave out “most”?
If 100 people show up to a party and MOST of them smoke – does that mean the same as majority (51%) or is it more like 75%?
Dave Killoran says
Well, we didn’t try to cover every single term, and “most” is extremely well-covered in our books and courses so we didn’t feel the need 🙂
In these terms, Most would be anywhere from 51-100. But always at least 51, with no implication that it’s necessarily higher.
Thanks!
Russ says
I am dating my age here. I also was taught that a Couple was always 2, a Few could be 3 or 4, Several was 5 , 6 and sometimes 7, however no more. Then there were the terms Many and a Bunch. No memories here however they were less than a Bakers Dozen of 13.
Dave Killoran says
Hey Russ,
In normal conversation, you’d be correct! But the LSAT uses a specific logical definition, and that’s what gets tested so we try to make sure everyone is aware of that 🙂
Thanks!
Ledet Brittian says
“Word matter” they are important. The context a word is used in is also important. A super high score is the LSAT is the most important in this context.
Gloria Aguirre says
Thank you! Your blogs, books, and podcast have been extremely helpful! I wish I knew about PowerScore before taking an lsat course. If I could do it all over again I would have chosen to take a course with PowerScore instead.
Josh O says
Thanks!
Adrienne says
When in grade school (yes, before the concept of “middle school” was invented), learning about these things, the words “few” and “several” had very specific “number ranges,” and “many” was the only one that was open-ended on the high end. These same definitions appeared both in our English texts, and in the various dictionaries used to verify. “Few” was something like 3 to 4, “several” possibly 5-7, and “many” more than 7.
So many definitions change because of consistent misuse among the population, often becoming blurred, which possibly what has happened in this case.
Nikki says
My high school economics teachers defined a few as any amount between 3 and 11. It’s the only item of knowledge I actually clearly remember from my last semester of high school.
Carl Olsen says
I can’t believe these are the results of my simple question about how many are a few.
Is everything that complicated now?
Dave Killoran says
Sadly, yes! Some words just aren’t precise enough (or used in the same situations at all times) to elicit an exact definition, and “few” is one of those terms.
Danuta Lempert says
What is the point of communication? To confuse readers or to speak with clarity? What is your priority? Since we already have the word couple that means two, why would you assign the same meaning to a word few? It must be to create confusion, so nobody knows what it means. Why do people prefer confusion to clarity? It’s easier to manipulate others when they are confused, not so easy when they see clearly. Most of our lawyers, or too many, or a large number excel in manipulation but have no respect for the truth. If they study law for too long, they talk in circles and don’t say anything, or they push their opinions on others like bullies. And a lawyer like that is considered “one heck of a lawyer.” Where there is no respect for the truth, then chaos and confusion reigns. Look at our government. Perhaps we should start with basics. What is the truth? Not right or wrong.
Dave Killoran says
Hi Danuta,
Thanks for the thoughts. I don’t think this is about confusion vs clarity, but about how words can overlap. “Couple” typically means two, whereas “few” means “two or more.” It’s not confusing to have overlap, and in fact it’s quite common for words to overlap concepts or encompass each other (for example: pear vs fruit). the LSAT, which is specifically what we’re talking about in this article, is a word that uses standard logical/academic definitions of words that have existed for years. It’s not at all about lawyers, how they work or talk, or even our government. Those are topics for a different site or platform (like Reddit or Twitter!) 🙂
Kirsten Hutchings says
I’ve always lived by these rules. One is 1, a couple is 2, few is 3, some is 4 ( like a 4some in golf) many is 5, and six or more is several, think of the “sev” in seven😊
Dave Killoran says
In the real world those work fine, but on the LSAT those definitions could get you in trouble!