To ask how literally you take these statements?

[KneadingKitty]

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!

1. I would print like 5 just to be safe as it could be an ambiguous statement. “Couple” does mean two but there’s all sorts of weird corporate speak within offices where normal words like that are used as euphemisms almost. I think if they specifically wanted 2 copies, they would have said so instead. I am struggling to think why they couldn’t have printed it themselves though.

1. As in asap, like action it right now. Obviously you can then infer the priority based on your actual duties, what is an emergency to them may not be an emergency to you etc

Couple of copies - 5
Urgent- depends on person sending
Some get in the habit of saying everything is urgent, sadly meaning that urgent emails cannot be differentiated from those that can wait
I also look out for
Quick question
And
If the important is flagged
And other things, but those are the main ones
Also, if it is urgent, sometimes they will follow up with an IM or call. That is, IM to say " do you have enough info to take action" ; a call to say " reason it is important"

Couple I understand is five on business copies...

2 copies. If they wanted more they should have said so in plain English.

Urgent - asap.

2
I would read it and then decide, for example, if it's an easy response, I would just do it immediately. If it required me to do something, I would prioritise it within my workload.

3 to be safe
Within the next 30 mins.

@mnnewbie111

Some people don't understand that a couple LITERALLY means two. Bless! You're right, they're stupid and too lazy to actually explain

People are wrong when they keep insisting that a couple means two and nothing else.

Yes, when referring to a married couple, it means 2 because you've defined the number by using married. It's also a noun which means two.

If someone told you there were a couple of people waiting to see you, it might mean two but it could mean three or four. Here 'a couple of' is an adjective (hmm, I think) and means a few or an unspecified small amount.

But if they said there was a couple waiting to see you, you'd know it was two people and they'd be connected in some way, not necessarily married. Here a couple is a noun and is defined as two.

If someone was asked if Tesco was busy and they replied, no, there were only a couple of people in, we wouldn't think they had counted and there were literally only 2 people. We'd think there were very few people.

But maybe people think I'm a bit stupid or making it up so let me quote the Oxford and Cambridge Dictionaries.

Oxford Dictionary
an indefinite small number.
"he hoped she'd be better in a couple of days"

Cambridge Dictionary
two or a few things that are similar or the same, or two or a few people who are in some way connected.

A couple means 2, a few means 3-6 (or more depending on context)

Urgent depends on the work you do.

A couple is two but I'd print 3.

I'd reply to the email ASAP if it really was urgent. Otherwise by the end of the day.

2 and straight away

@Thatsplentyjack

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

Same

A couple of = 2
A few = 3

‘Urgent’ depends on who sent it. I’m a teacher and get parents emailing me at 9am with URGENT-MRS XXX- telling me their child has lost their jumper and I have to find it.

I will get back to them when I have time. That is not urgent and I won’t be spending my 30 minute lunch replying.

It's good to know many other people would make 2. I was quite embarrassed about it. I suppose people do often say things they don't exactly mean and then expect you to figure it out, so it's not overly surprising.

A couple of copy's.

Urgent depends what and who, as there any many who cry wolf.

Urgent-as soon as I get the email.
Couple- I'd not proceed without confirmation of an actual number.

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

I would make 3.

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?

Within an hour, even if it's to say there'll be a delay for some reason

Oxford Dictionary
an indefinite small number.
"he hoped she'd be better in a couple of days"

Cambridge Dictionary
Two or a few things that are similar or the same, or two or a few people who are in some way connected.

You'll still get some weirdos insisting they are right and the dictionary is wrong, guaranteed! They don't be able to accept that it is, in fact, them who are being a bit stupid

Two copies and a spare (plus the original)

I’d open and read within the next half hour and then decide what was needed

2
Straight away

Make 2 copies
Do the thing immediately

3 copies and immediate response

The only clear number that a couple can mean is 2. Some people might interpret it to be a few but in the context of photocopying a certain number of copies it’s use in this way can only lead to confusion.

Only an idiot could be surprised if someone interpreted a request for a couple to mean 2. If it was important to have more then it is quite easy to be more specific.

A couple is def 2 copies, how anyone can get 5 out of a couple needs to go back to school.

Urgent would depend on who is asking and what it's for. We get "urgent" emails all the time and half the it's not urgent. But if my manager or someone of a higher level says urgent then I do it immediately.

A couple means two so I would have done two.

Urgent means immediate to me, so I would have replied immediately and if I couldn't do it that second I would have within the hour.

In the context of copies I'd assume 'a couple' meant more than 2. But I'd be annoyed at the vagueness and would have said immediately to the person "so, 3 or 4 copies okay?"

When someone says 'a couple' like that they mean 'a few' not literally 2 otherwise they would say 2 copies.

It's like saying a couple of biscuits - you know you ate more than 2.

Urgent depends on the job context - if I am a doctor/police officer/bomb disposal expert it means NOW this second, if I'm doing regular admin work I assume means it's a priority for as soon as possible but judged against the other job priorities.