Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how literally you take these statements?

194 replies

KneadingKitty · 09/03/2022 10:28

If someone said to you "can you make a couple of copies of this please?" how many copies would you make?

If someone sent you an email and marked it as "urgent", what does urgent mean to you? How long would you think was acceptable to reply?

First thought of the top of your head rather than properly thinking it!

OP posts:
Grenlei · 09/03/2022 10:37

A couple = 2

A few/ several = 5-10

Urgent - as soon as I can. Depending on the person it might be immediate drop everything. Or that morning/ by the end of the day, but no longer than that.

Vallmo47 · 09/03/2022 10:37

A couple means 2.
Urgent means as soon as possible, but I’d definitely want it done within the same day at the very least.

22Newnames · 09/03/2022 10:38

A couple is 2, a few is 3. Any other number needs to be said directly.

Depending on who is asking, urgent usually means now. If it is coming from someone who marks everything as 'urgent' then less of a hurry.

KitKattaktik · 09/03/2022 10:39

Couple is definitely two.
Urgent means same day unless specified "need this by x-o'clock"

However if someone asked for a couple of copies i'd clarify "you want two?"

CornedBeef451 · 09/03/2022 10:40

In the context of photocopying I would have done 5 but any other context a couple would be 2.

Urgent would depend on context and whatever else I had going on as some people put urgent on anything.

Beamur · 09/03/2022 10:41

5 is not a couple. If you want 5, ask for 5.
Urgent. Depends who is asking. Urgent for you or urgent for me? My work often entails working with people who would like their issues to be urgently dealt with, but it's not actually urgent and they may be in a queue. If my boss asks, then it's urgent and I would deal asap unless I was given a specific time frame.

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 09/03/2022 10:43

@goodforyounoonecares

2 copies I would reply within the working day but it really depends on the context
Agree with this. Urgent means different things to different people. Depends on context and who's asking. As a PA, if it's come from the CEO then it's urgent whatever they're asking for!
SayMumOneMoreTime · 09/03/2022 10:44

2 copies, and another person's urgent is not necessarily my urgent so I would briefly prioritise urgency against my workload, reply and give a likely timescale for completing the action.

Comefromaway · 09/03/2022 10:44

A couple of most definitely 2. A few is 3. Several is around 5-10

Urgent means do it as soon as you can. Straight away if possible unless you have something that is more urgent.

mrsbitaly · 09/03/2022 10:45

2 copies and probably within an hour

SayMumOneMoreTime · 09/03/2022 10:45

If you want 5 you ask for 5! Very strange to be vague and then annoyed.

OnceUponAThread · 09/03/2022 10:45

A couple means two copies. I'd probably do a third just in case.

Urgent is trickier. Back when I was junior I'd say 99% of the emails I got were described as urgent, and clearly I couldn't deal with them all at once.

Usually a good opportunity to manage up / show organisation, so I would typically open straight away, scan to see what was needed and whether a specific deadline was included.

If no deadline - I'd work out where it sat on my priority list and let the person know when they'd have it. E.g.

Hi Jan,

On the case. Will have it with you by 4pm.

Thanks,
Once.

That means they're not worrying whether I've seen the email and they know when they'll get their doc etc. Only takes five mins - and bosses love it. Now I'm a boss I really appreciate that kind of proactivity from the people I work with.

DetailMouse · 09/03/2022 10:45

If I asked for a couple and you brought two when I wanted 5, I'd be apologising for not being clear. Personally I would have done more than 2, knowing the request was vague, but if I'd been vague, I wouldn't be critising the person who took it literally

Blossomtoes · 09/03/2022 10:47

@Thatsplentyjack

A couple means 2 Urgent to me would mean do it now basically.
Same.

Urgent definitely means right now.

helpfulperson · 09/03/2022 10:48

2 copies and I would read the email immediately and judge action timescales from that.

Cabbagepie · 09/03/2022 10:48

A couple - I would do 2 copies.
Urgent - would depend on who was saying it. I used to work with someone who put urgent on everything (often because they had left things to the last minute) so pretty meaningless. I invariably had a number of 'urgent' requests which had to be prioritised and could change several times during the course if the day. This could vary from urgent - needing immediate attention, urgent - required by end of day or urgent - ensure completed by a specified deadline.

MrsPear · 09/03/2022 10:48

Couple - 2
Urgent - drop everything else and do now.

Sally872 · 09/03/2022 10:54

I would make 3 copies thinking that is 1 spare definitely not 5.

Urgent from my manager would mean this is the priority do it now. From anyone else I would do it ASAP, same day or speak to them to offer timeline if same day not possible.

melj1213 · 09/03/2022 10:58

If someone asks for "a couple" then it means 2 and I wouldn't expect to have to clarify this ... I might then make 3 copies just in case they need a spare but definitely no more. If someone asked for "a few" or "several" copies then I would clarify with them an actual number they need "You need a few copies? Will 5 be enough or do you need more?"

As for "Urgent" generally I would interpret it as ASAP but it would also depend on the context. If every other email marked as "urgent" then I'd open it, scan through to see what is needed and when, then add it to my to do list based on the actual deadline (no deadline and I'd add it to my list after things that had a deadline today and before things that had deadlines days away and aim to get some sort of update to the person by the end of the day). If "Urgent" emails are a rarity then I would prioritise reading it over all the other emails and then depending on the content I would either action it immediately or at the very least give them an immediate update with a deadline "Hi Jane, I have received this and am working on it now. Should have it done by lunchtime but it will be with you by 2pm at the latest."

moonbedazzled · 09/03/2022 10:58

I don't think of a couple as being strictly two. In my
mind it means a small number so I'd do 5 or 6 for safety. Urgent means as soon as possible or practicable.

starfishmummy · 09/03/2022 11:02

2 copies.
Urgent I'd probably look at ot ASAP (same day) but actioning it might take another day; because the other person's priority might not be my priority.

Obira · 09/03/2022 11:02

A couple is two. The dictionary definition of couple is literally “two people or things of the same type”. Urgent means drop everything and do this as soon as you can. Your colleague is insane.

Rosehugger · 09/03/2022 11:02

An urgent email - I would phone them back as soon as I'd read it to get more information.

A couple - I'd probably do one or two more to be on the safe side. As long as it wasn't a tome.

Goldie2021 · 09/03/2022 11:03

2 copies and straight away.

moonbedazzled · 09/03/2022 11:04

Oh, I hadn't seen your update. Yes, 5 is specific but I'd have done five at least. Couple is unspecific to me and just means a small number.
I'd be annoyed if they'd said urgent but meant any time. That could put out my whole day. Worse, when they do really mean urgent in future, I won't take it seriously and it would be done 'soon' and at my convenience.