English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
For many years or for several years?
~Several~ people were here to see him yesterday; let’s say about forty of them (nonstandard).
*Many* people were here to see him yesterday; let’s say about forty of them (standard).
You use many to indicate that you are talking about a large number of people or things.
I have ~many~ files to treat today; say about four or five (nonstandard).
I have *several* files to treat today; say about four or five (standard).
Several means some; an amount that is not exact but is fewer than many.
GAB
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