a few chips

USAGE SUMMARY

"a few chips" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used in various contexts to refer to a small number of chips or crisp-like snacks. Here are some examples: 1. "I grabbed a few chips from the bowl to munch on while watching the movie." 2. "The restaurant served a few chips with our sandwiches as a side dish." 3. "The bag of chips only had a few chips left in it, so I had to buy a new one." 4. "I only ate a few chips at the party because I didn't want to spoil my appetite for dinner." 5. "My doctor told me to limit my intake of unhealthy snacks, so I only allow myself to have a few chips once in a while."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

A few chips quietly lost here, a few chips quietly lost there, and nobody cares.

The New York Times

Eventually, with only a few chips left, he folded.

The New Yorker

After hitting a few chips from the around the green, we called it a day.

The New York Times - Magazine

But only a few chips broke free and needed to be repaired.

The New York Times - Arts

Then he hit a few chips, with his son fielding the balls and throwing them back.

The New York Times - Sports

Other than bitter greens and a few chips, there are no vegetables.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Cuarón, who co-wrote Gravity with his father Alfonso, exhibits a few chip-off-the-old-block tendencies.

The Guardian - Film

There are only a few chip fabricators in the world on the cutting edge with the scale Apple requires – Samsung, Intel and TSMC.

MIT Technology Review

Allen Zhu, who became famous for investing in star start-ups, including the ride-sharing company Didi Chuxing Technology and the bike-sharing app Ofo, said he invested in a few chip start-ups years ago but lost his money.

The New York Times - Tech

A few chip and computer hardware stocks continued to climb despite the broader downtrend, thanks to a positive report Tuesday about growth in the chip market later this year.

Forbes

A few chip and computer hardware stocks continued to climb despite the broader downtrend, thanks to a positive report released Tuesday that forecast growth in the chip market later this year.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few chips" in your writing, ensure the context clarifies what kind of chips you are referring to (e.g., potato chips, chocolate chips, computer chips). This avoids ambiguity and ensures clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "a few chips" when you actually mean a significant quantity. "A few" implies a small, limited number, so using it to describe a large amount would be inaccurate and misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few chips" primarily functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun (chips) to indicate a small, indefinite quantity. This is supported by Ludwig examples showing its use with both snack items and electronic components.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

14%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a few chips" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to indicate a small quantity of “chips”. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and versatility. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, reflecting its use in a range of contexts from discussing snacks to electronic components. While generally neutral in register, context is important to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity. When writing, remember to specify the type of chips being referred to, and use alternatives like “a small number of chips” or “a couple of chips” for different nuances. Avoid using this phrase when referring to large quantities to maintain accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small number of chips

Replaces "few" with "small number", emphasizing the limited quantity.

a couple of chips

Uses "couple" instead of "few", implying a slightly smaller quantity.

a handful of chips

Emphasizes the quantity that can be held in one hand.

a limited amount of chips

More formal and emphasizes the restriction in quantity.

a scattering of chips

Describes the chips being sparsely distributed.

a sprinkling of chips

Suggests the chips are lightly spread over something.

a trace of chips

Indicates a very small and almost negligible amount.

a modicum of chips

A more formal and less common way to indicate a small quantity.

a scant few chips

Emphasizes that the number of chips is barely enough.

several chips

"Several" indicates slightly more than "a few", but still a limited quantity.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few chips" to describe a small number of snack items, like "I ate "a few chips" while watching TV" or to indicate computer components, like "The device only requires "a few chips" to function".

What's a synonym for "a few chips"?

Alternatives to "a few chips" include "a small number of chips", "a couple of chips", or "a handful of chips", depending on the specific quantity you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a few chips"?

Yes, "a few chips" is grammatically correct. "Few" is used with countable nouns (like "chips") to indicate a small quantity.

What is the difference between "a few chips" and "few chips"?

While both refer to a small quantity of chips, "a few" suggests there are some, whereas "few" implies there are very few, almost to the point of being insufficient. "I have "a few chips"" means I have some chips. "I have few chips" means I barely have any.