couples of times (couple of times)

Short answer: "Couples of times" is not idiomatic. Use "a couple of times" for a small number of occurrences. In casual speech "a couple times" appears, but for clear writing use the three-word form or choose "twice" / "several times" when you mean exactly two or more vaguely.

Quick answer

"Couples of times" is incorrect. Pick one of these based on tone and precision:

a couple of times - neutral and idiomatic for most writing
a couple times - informal, OK in speech or casual chat
twice / two times - exact: use when you mean exactly two
several times / on a couple of occasions - more formal or deliberately vague

Core explanation: structure and why "couples of times" fails

The fixed pattern is determiner + noun + of + measure: e.g. "a pair of socks", "a bunch of grapes", "a couple of times". Making "couple" plural breaks that idiom-"couples of times" reads as an error, not a natural variant.

Correct: a couple of times
Casual: a couple times
Incorrect: couples of times

Wrong: I have been to Paris couples of times.
Right: I have been to Paris a couple of times.
Wrong: She watched that season couples of times.
Right: She watched that season a couple of times.

Grammar: agreement and plural verbs

When "a couple of" modifies a plural noun, the noun usually controls verb agreement: "A couple of students are late." When "the couple" refers to two people as one unit, a singular verb is possible: "The couple is on holiday."

A couple of + plural noun → plural verb: "A couple of students are here."
The couple (viewed as one unit) → singular verb: "The couple is arriving."
Don't pluralize "couple" to form "couples of" when counting occurrences.

Wrong: A couple of student is coming to the meeting.
Right: A couple of students are coming to the meeting.
Right: The couple is celebrating their anniversary.

Real usage: work, school, casual examples (copyable)

Choose the sentence that fits your context and tone.

Work (email): "I've followed up with the vendor a couple of times; I'm waiting on their reply."
Work (formal): "The prototype was tested on a couple of occasions to confirm stability."
Work (note): "We met a couple of times to finalize the scope."
School (student): "I've been to your office a couple of times this semester."
School (essay): "Avoid 'a couple times' in essays; use 'several times' or 'on a couple of occasions'."
School (classroom): "A couple of students asked for an extension."
Casual (text): "Saw that movie a couple times - so good!"
Casual (chat): "I've tried that a couple times with no luck."
Casual (post): "Went back a couple of times before deciding."

Examples: common wrong/right sentence pairs

Quick swap-in corrections you can paste.

Wrong: We tried it couples of times but couldn't reproduce the bug.
Right: We tried it a couple of times but couldn't reproduce the bug.
Wrong: I've called them couples of times without an answer.
Right: I've called them a couple of times without an answer.
Wrong: She went there couple times last month.
Right: She went there a couple of times last month.
Wrong: Couples of times, he forgot to save his work.
Right: A couple of times, he forgot to save his work.
Wrong: I missed the bus couples of times.
Right: I missed the bus a couple of times.
Wrong: They had couples of problems with the build.
Right: They had a couple of problems with the build.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence rather than the phrase alone. Context shows whether you mean exactly two, roughly two, or a small number.

Fix your sentence: short rewrites you can use now

Replace "couples of times" with a neutral, casual, or formal option depending on need.

Original: "I called them couples of times but no answer." → Quick: "I called them a couple of times, but there was no answer." →
Casual: "I called them a couple times, no answer." →
Formal: "I attempted contact on a couple of occasions but received no response."
Original: "Couples of times during the week we meet." → Quick: "We meet a couple of times during the week." →
Casual: "We meet a couple times each week." →
Formal: "We meet on a couple of occasions each week."
Original: "She went there couple times last year." → Quick: "She went there a couple of times last year." →
Casual: "She went there a couple times last year." →
Formal: "She visited that site twice last year."
Original: "We tested the feature couples of times." → Quick: "We tested the feature a couple of times." →
Formal: "We tested the feature on multiple occasions."
Original: "There were couples of people at the event." → Quick: "There were a couple of people at the event." →
Formal: "A small number of people attended the event."
Original: "I missed the train couples of times." → Quick: "I missed the train a couple of times." →
Formal: "I missed the train on a couple of occasions."

Hyphenation & spacing: short rules

Write the phrase as three separate words: "a couple of times". Avoid hyphens and underscores; they make the phrase awkward or incorrect.

Wrong: a couple-of-times, couple_of_times
Correct: a couple of times
If you need an adjectival form, rephrase: "a couple of visits" rather than "a couple-of-times visit."

Wrong: We had a couple-of-times visit to the lab.
Right: We had a couple of visits to the lab.

Memory trick: a tiny mnemonic you'll remember

Think "number-ish word + of + thing": "a pair of shoes", "a bunch of keys", "a couple of times". If you remember the "of", you're usually safe. Dropping "of" is fine in casual speech, but keep it in formal writing.

Substitute "twice" or "several times" to check whether you need exactness or vagueness.
Mnemonic: "pair/pair of" pattern - "a couple of" follows the same structure.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Writers often drop "of" or overpluralize fixed expressions. Fix those with the patterns below.

Wrong: a couple days → Better: a couple of days or a few days
Wrong: couples of people → Better: a couple of people or several people
Wrong: bunches of times → Better: a bunch of times or many times

Wrong: We have a couple days left to finish.
Right: We have a couple of days left to finish.
Wrong: There were couples of people in line.
Right: There were a couple of people in line.

FAQ

Is "couples of times" correct?

No. It is not idiomatic. Use "a couple of times" or, informally, "a couple times."

Can I drop the "of" and write "a couple times"?

"A couple times" is common in speech and casual writing. For formal writing, include "of" or use "twice" / "several times" as appropriate.

When should I use "twice" instead of "a couple of times"?

Use "twice" or "two times" when you mean exactly two occurrences. Use "a couple of times" for about two or a small number.

Does "a couple of" make the subject plural?

"A couple of" followed by a plural noun generally takes a plural verb (A couple of students are...). The phrase itself should not be pluralized to "couples of."

What's the quickest rewrite if I spot "couples of times"?

Replace it with "a couple of times" for a neutral fix. For more formality, use "on a couple of occasions", "several times", or "twice" depending on meaning.

Want a fast check?

If you're unsure, replace "couples of times" with one of the quick rewrites above and read the sentence aloud. For repeated slips, a grammar checker will flag and suggest the correct phrasing.