a few child

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few child" is not correct in English.
The correct form should be "a few children." You can use the correct phrase when referring to a small number of young individuals, typically in a context discussing a group of kids. Example: "At the park, I saw a few children playing together on the swings."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Moreover, we have been successful in stopping a few child marriages," she says proudly.

The Guardian

It's little wonder, then, that some parents, and even a few child therapists, have found themselves taking mental notes from a television personality known for inspiring discipline, order and devotion: Cesar Millan, otherwise known as the Dog Whisperer.

The New York Times

Currently, however, pediatric dosimetry calculations are limited to only a few child models (OLINDA software allows only for dosimetry calculation for newborn, 5, 10, and 15 years old) [27, 28].

EJNMMI Physics

So far I've gotten a few child porn rings busted, so that feels nice.

Vice

I had steady income that probably flouted a few Child Labor laws".

Huffington Post

This finding corresponds with reviews concluding that weight management programmes are not psychologically harmful in children. 3 12 Only a few child obesity trials reported on mental health outcome while some studies reported on self-esteem and quality of life.

Archives of Disease in Childhood

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Valencia is the sort of place you pick for yourselves hoping you'll happen upon a few child-friendly attractions when you get there.

The Guardian - Travel

But a few child-soldiers who had fled the militia revealed their marks, etched like little bundles of sticks into their skin (the tattoos of defecting Mayi-Mayi lose their powers).

The New York Times

A few children.

The New York Times

But slowly a few children filtered in.

The New York Times

Mainly couples and small groups, with a few children.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the plural form "children" when referring to more than one child. Remember that "child" is singular and "children" is plural.

Common error

Avoid using "child" as a plural noun. While "a few" indicates more than one, the word following it must be plural. Therefore, always use "a few children".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few child" functions as a determiner phrase, attempting to quantify a small number of children. However, it is grammatically incorrect because "child" should be pluralized to "children" when used with "a few". As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is not correct in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few child" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. The correct form is "a few children". Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While the phrase appears in various sources, including news and media, science, and formal business contexts, its incorrect grammar undermines its effectiveness. Remember to always use the plural form "children" when referring to more than one child. Using correct grammar ensures clear and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few children

Corrects the grammatical error by using the plural form of "child".

just a few children

Adds emphasis to the small quantity of children.

several children

Replaces "a few" with "several", indicating more than two but not many.

some children

Uses "some" to indicate an unspecified quantity of children.

a couple of children

Replaces "a few" with "a couple", specifically meaning two.

a handful of children

Indicates a small number, emphasizing that it's easily countable.

a small number of children

More formal and explicit way of saying "a few children".

a scattering of children

Suggests the children are dispersed or spread out.

a minority of children

Indicates that the children are a smaller group compared to a larger one.

not many children

Emphasizes the scarcity of children.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a few child"?

The correct phrase is "a few children". "Child" is singular, and when you mean more than one, you should use the plural form, "children".

Is "a few child" grammatically correct?

No, "a few child" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "a few children". The word following "a few" should be plural.

What can I say instead of "a few child"?

Since "a few child" is incorrect, you should use "a few children". Other alternatives include "several children" or "some children".

What's the difference between "a few child" and "a few children"?

"A few child" is grammatically incorrect. "A few children" is the correct form, using the plural noun "children" to denote more than one child.