a few contributions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few contributions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of contributions made by someone or a group in a particular context, such as a project or discussion. Example: "The report included a few contributions from various team members that enhanced the overall quality of the work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

To the list of baffling developments Tuesday, hockey had a few contributions.

The New York Times - Sports

That might be literally true -- not many lobbyists give dimes these days -- but Mr. Edwards has accepted at least a few contributions from current and former lobbyists, and his campaign manager was a registered Washington lobbyist in 2002.

The New York Times

The tiresome plot machinations and witless punch lines in this latest piece, a collaboration with the book writer and co-lyricist Lee Kalcheim (and a few contributions from Mr. Kalcheim's son Samuel, a college student), seem to have been dusted off from well before that.

The New York Times

The results of the present research make a few contributions to the literature.

Frontiers of Business Research in China

We'll here describe a few contributions neurophilosophers have made to this literature.

SEP

Only a few contributions considered the semantic properties and other few contributions did not use any statistical measure.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

But there were a few thoughtful contributions.

The Guardian

There were a few notable contributions during the 1987 World Cup final.

The Guardian - Sport

(AT&T makes a few gloppy contributions, too — the usual junkware apps. Fortunately, you can delete them).

The New York Times - Tech

"But now, in just a few days, contributions to the annual campaign have leaped ahead of the 2001 pace," he said.

The New York Times

Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, says he does not want money from lobbyists, but a few modest contributions have slipped through.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add impact, follow "a few contributions" with a clause explaining their significance or effect.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the impact of "a few contributions". The phrase implies a limited quantity, so avoid using it in contexts where many significant contributions were made.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few contributions" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, specifying a small quantity of contributions. It indicates that there were some, but not many, additions or inputs, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a few contributions" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate a limited number of additions or inputs. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears across various contexts, particularly in scientific and news publications. When using this phrase, it's important to provide context about the type of contributions and to avoid exaggerating their impact. Alternatives like "several inputs" or "a couple of suggestions" can be used depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several inputs

This alternative suggests a number of elements introduced into a system or discussion.

a couple of suggestions

This highlights a number of pieces of advice or proposals offered.

several contributors

This alternative highlights the individuals or entities that have added to something.

several commitments

This alternative emphasizes promises or obligations made to a project or cause.

a number of recommendations

This refers to several pieces of advice or suggestions that are offered.

several proposals

This alternative indicates a number of formal suggestions or plans.

several actions

This alternative refers to steps or measures taken to achieve a specific goal.

a couple of donations

This focuses on financial or material assistance provided.

a couple of donations

This refers to gifts or contributions, often monetary, given to a cause.

a couple of bucks

This alternative refers to small monetary amounts.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few contributions" to indicate that a small number of people or sources have added to something. For instance, "The project benefited from "a few contributions" from external researchers".

What are some alternatives to "a few contributions"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "several inputs", "several suggestions", or "a couple of donations".

Is it better to say "a few contributions" or "few contributions"?

"A few contributions" implies a small but positive number, whereas "few contributions" suggests that the number is so small as to be almost negligible or disappointing. The choice depends on the intended nuance.

What is the difference between "a few contributions" and "some contributions"?

"A few contributions" indicates a smaller, more limited number of contributions than "some contributions". "Some contributions" implies an unspecified, potentially larger, quantity.