a few collections

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few collections" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of collections, typically in contexts related to items, data, or works of art. Example: "The museum has a few collections that showcase the history of local artists."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"I've done a few collections, but it was boring".

The New York Times - Style

A few collections did seem ruggedly global in their cultural reach.

The New York Times

A few collections published by small presses between the 70s and 90s won a tiny but devoted band of admirers including Lydia Davis and Saul Bellow.

The Guardian - Books

You can see a few collections of arrowheads and some old-fashioned kitchen equipment -- a couple of pressure cookers and a wood-fired stove.

The New York Times

The literature of the subject which in 1900 was limited to two textbooks, a few collections of lectures and essays, and a small number of histories and biographies became copious and varied by the late 20th century.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Still, in only a few collections did you sense designers responding creatively to the recession, or at least thinking how differently the world might be shaped in the coming years.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

A few collection items, currently on deposit at Houghton Library, require additional permission to reproduce.

Harvard University

Plus, the researchers can gather blood and other samples, simply by sending a request and a few collection supplies, something that could never be done with the public.

The New York Times - Science

Our original exercise (which resulted in a paper called Shifting Gears) was aimed at getting institutions to refocus from digitizing a few collection high points, to digitizing entire collections, and to do it at scale.

Stanford University

Usually, in a typical RF-based search scenario, only a few collection images are labeled.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Although a few collection sites were mixed forest composed of species in Fagaceae (Quercus acutissima) and Pinaceae, Tuber indicum is probably associated with Pinus host plant based on the morphological characteristics of the mycorrhizae.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few collections", ensure the context clarifies what type of collections you are referring to (e.g., art collections, data collections) for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a few collections" when you actually mean there are many. Using a more appropriate quantifier like "several" or "numerous" prevents misleading the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few collections" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a noun, specifying a limited quantity of groupings. Ludwig AI confirms its proper grammatical status and wide usability across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

35%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few collections" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to indicate a small number of groupings. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and widespread usage across various fields, including news, science, and academia. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, it's important to choose the appropriate quantifier based on the actual quantity to avoid misleading your audience. Alternatives like "several collections" or "a small number of collections" can be used depending on the context. By understanding these nuances, writers can effectively and accurately convey their intended meaning using the phrase "a few collections".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several collections

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

a couple of collections

Uses "a couple of" to mean approximately two.

a small number of collections

More formal and emphasizes the limited quantity.

a limited number of collections

Highlights the restricted quantity of collections.

a handful of collections

Informal way to indicate a small quantity.

a select few collections

Emphasizes the chosen or special nature of the collections.

a sparse number of collections

Highlights the scarcity of the collections.

some collections

More general term indicating an unspecified small quantity.

a minority of collections

Indicates the collections represent a smaller portion of the total.

a restricted set of collections

Highlights that access or availability to the collections is limited.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few collections" to indicate a small number of items grouped together. For example, "The library featured "a few collections" of rare manuscripts".

What phrases are similar to "a few collections"?

Similar phrases include "several collections", "a couple of collections", or "a small number of collections".

Is it correct to say "a few collection"?

No, it's grammatically incorrect. "Collections" is a plural noun, so it requires the plural form. The correct phrase is ""a few collections"".

What's the difference between "a few collections" and "many collections"?

"A few collections" indicates a small quantity, whereas "many collections" suggests a large number. The choice depends on the actual quantity you're describing.