a few ballots

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few ballots" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of ballots, typically in the context of voting or elections. Example: "After counting the votes, we found that a few ballots were incorrectly filled out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In two cases, votes were recounted by hand to determine victors because the machine counts were so close and a few ballots appeared flawed.

The New York Times

But back in 2000, at another time of relative peace and prosperity, it didn't seem to matter whether voters cast a few ballots for Ralph Nader or even got confused and chose Pat Buchanan.

The Guardian - Opinion

They tell us that they end up disqualifying quite a few ballots every year on those bases.

Huffington Post

Finally, the convention delegates decided to drop the candidate with the lowest vote total until one candidate received a majority; this resulted in the nomination of Goebel a few ballots later.

Wikipedia

The candidate that would get the presidential nod would be the one who got the most votes from the member's choices and it would probably take a few ballots to get that person.

Huffington Post

When Leslie, who enjoyed only lukewarm support from his party, sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1871, Brown's name was among those put in nomination against his; after a few ballots, however, it became clear that Brown would not be able to gain a majority, and his supporters abandoned their support of him in favor of other candidates.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

There will be a few ballot initiatives and local races in 2013, but nothing to compare with the bonanza of a battle for the White House.

The Economist

And so it goes as the cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel (by way of Cinecittà Studios) and, after a few ballot rounds, select Melville.

The New York Times

Yet at the same time, real political competition was occurring just a few ballot lines away in the nation's gubernatorial elections and in many Senate races.

The New York Times

In a country awash with guns, drug lords, suicide bombers, aid theft and massive corruption, that a few ballot boxes might have been stuffed and returning officers suborned hardly qualifies as indictable crime.

Huffington Post

They swept it again, give or take a few butterfly ballots and dimpled chads.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a few ballots", ensure the context clarifies what these ballots are being compared to (e.g., "a few ballots out of thousands").

Common error

Avoid using "a few ballots" to describe a situation where those ballots could significantly alter an outcome. For example, do not write 'The election was decided by a few ballots' if those ballots represent a large percentage of total votes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few ballots" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a noun, indicating a small, indefinite quantity of votes. This usage is supported by Ludwig AI and the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a few ballots" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a small quantity of ballots, typically in contexts related to elections and voting. While the phrase is correct and usable, it's important to consider the context and avoid overstating the significance of those ballots, according to Ludwig AI. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources and is considered to have a neutral register. Alternatives like "several ballots" or "a small number of ballots" can be used for variety, but "a few ballots" remains a clear and concise way to express a limited quantity of votes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several ballots

Emphasizes a slightly larger, but still indefinite, quantity of ballots.

a small number of ballots

More explicitly indicates the quantity being referred to is not large.

a handful of ballots

Suggests the number of ballots is small enough to be held in one hand.

a limited number of ballots

Highlights the restriction or constraint on the quantity of ballots.

a sprinkling of ballots

Implies a very sparse distribution of ballots, almost insignificant.

some ballots

A more general term indicating the existence of ballots without specifying an exact quantity.

a couple of ballots

Refers to exactly two ballots.

a minority of ballots

Emphasizes that the ballots in question represent a smaller portion of the total.

a fraction of the ballots

Highlights that the number of ballots is a small portion of the total.

isolated ballots

Indicates ballots that are separated or distinct from the main group.

FAQs

How can I use "a few ballots" in a sentence?

You can use "a few ballots" to describe a small number of votes, such as "The race was incredibly tight, decided by "a few ballots"".

What are some alternatives to saying "a few ballots"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "several ballots", "a small number of ballots", or "a handful of ballots".

Is it appropriate to use "a few ballots" when referring to a recount?

Yes, it's appropriate when only a small subset of ballots needs closer inspection. For example: "The recount focused on "a few ballots" where the initial machine readings were unclear."

What does "a few ballots" imply about the total number of ballots cast?

"A few ballots" generally implies that the number being discussed is small relative to the total. It suggests the number is insignificant compared to the whole.