a few academic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few academic" is not correct as it is incomplete.
It can be used when referring to a small number of academic individuals or entities, but it needs to be followed by a noun to be grammatically correct. Example: "I spoke with a few academic experts about the research findings."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Or maybe you'd prefer a few academic failures?

The Guardian - Books

Brooklyn has a few academic research groups, but they're quiet, or focused on specific issues.

The New York Times

She participates in a few academic clubs, but no sports, music or student government.

The New York Times

And a few academic publishers have begun putting scholarly journals and monographs on line.

The New York Times - Arts

Should Brandeis close down a few academic departments, or cut back on scholarships, to keep its art?

The New York Times

As with computing in the late 1970s, it is currently the preserve of hobbyists and workers in a few academic and industrial niches.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

A few academics were doing just that.

The Economist

The signatories were not "a few academics".

The Guardian

The question has puzzled more than a few academics and has produced a variety of theories.

The New York Times

Once the province of home hobbyists and a few academics, vehicle-to-grid charging, or V2G, is gaining momentum.

The New York Times

The witness list includes officials from the Federal Reserve Bank and the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as a few academics.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always follow "a few academic" with a noun to ensure grammatical correctness; for instance, "a few academic studies" or "a few academic experts."

Common error

Avoid using "a few academic" without a noun, as it leaves the phrase incomplete and grammatically incorrect. Instead of writing "a few academic", specify what you are referring to, such as "a few academic papers."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few academic" functions as a determiner followed by an adjective, modifying an unspecified noun. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is incomplete without a noun, and requires completion to be grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a few academic" appears frequently in various sources, including News & Media and Science, it is grammatically incomplete without a following noun. As Ludwig AI explains, using "a few academic" by itself is incorrect and requires completion to specify what is being referred to, such as "a few academic studies" or "a few academic experts". Alternatives like "a few scholars" or "a few academics" might be more appropriate depending on the intended meaning and context. Always ensure that the phrase is followed by a relevant noun to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few academics

Makes the phrase grammatically correct, referring to multiple academic individuals.

a few scholars

Replaces "academic" with "scholars", focusing on individuals engaged in scholarly pursuits.

a few university

Substitutes "academic" with "university", directly referencing a university setting.

a few teaching

Swaps "academic" with "teaching", referring to items related to instruction or education.

a few scholastic

Uses "scholastic" instead of "academic", highlighting the formal education aspect.

a few school

Replaces "academic" with "school", generally referring to primary and secondary school.

a few academy

Substitutes "academic" with "academy", referring to secondary or higher education institutions.

a few university based

Emphasizes the location of the items within a university environment.

a few scientists

Moves the subject into the scientific field rather than the academic world.

a few studies

Indicates a small number of research investigations or analyses.

FAQs

How can I use "a few academic" correctly in a sentence?

Ensure you follow "a few academic" with a noun to complete the phrase. For example, you can say "a few academic articles" or "a few academic conferences".

What's a good alternative to "a few academic"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a few scholars" or "a few studies".

Is it correct to say "a few academic" by itself?

No, "a few academic" requires a noun to specify what you are referring to. It's an incomplete phrase without it.

What is the difference between "a few academic" and "a few academics"?

"A few academic" needs a noun to be grammatically correct. "A few academics" refers to multiple people in academia and is grammatically correct.