Cool MateOften vs Several times
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Often
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Several times
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Often
| Often | Several times | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɒfn//ˈɒftən/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɔːfn//ˈɔːftən/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈsɛv.ər.əl taɪmz//🇺🇸 //ˈsɛv.ɚ.əl taɪmz// |
| Meaning | Many times; frequently. | More than once; many occasions. |
| Example | I often go to the park on weekends. | I have called you several times today. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | often seen, often heard, often used, often considered, often overlooked | several times a week, several times a day, several times in a row |
| Antonyms | seldom, rarely, infrequently | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'often' in place of 'seldom' (confusing frequency), Misplacing 'often' in a sentence (e.g., 'I often go' vs 'I go often'), Confusing 'often' with 'always' or 'never' | 'Several time' instead of 'several times'., Using it with uncountable nouns incorrectly., Confusing with 'a few times'; 'several' implies more. |
| Usage notes | Use 'often' to describe actions that happen regularly. It's neutral and appropriate in most contexts, but avoid using it in very formal writing where terms like 'frequently' might be better. | Use 'several times' for repeated actions or events. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid in overly formal contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Often vs Several times
What's the difference between Often and Several times?
Often: Many times; frequently. Several times: More than once; many occasions.
Which is more common: Often and Several times?
Often is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Often: I often go to the park on weekends. Several times: I have called you several times today.
Can I use Often and Several times interchangeably?
Not always. Often and Several times are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.