a few conversations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few conversations" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a small number of discussions or dialogues that have taken place. Example: "After having a few conversations with the team, we decided to move forward with the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A few conversations went more smoothly.

The New Yorker

But yeah, that's only relevant to a few conversations.

The Guardian - Opinion

A few conversations do not prove a point.

The New York Times

After a few conversations, we picked one, and we signed our agreement.

The New York Times

Stoudemire also had a few conversations with Anthony during the weekend, according to Anthony.

The New York Times - Sports

One student had a few conversations with Hill and joined the Marines after graduation.

The New York Times

"We've had quite a few conversations over the last 24 hours," he said.

The New York Times

A few conversations floated on the air, hinting at the reasons people had come.

The New York Times - Travel

That could help with ideas for later this month, and prompt a few conversations, too.

MIT Technology Review

I've had a few conversations with Long, trying to understand what harm they think they are defending marriage from.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's not enough to have a few conversations with a spouse, a personal coach or a shrink.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few conversations", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the number and nature of the discussions. If the conversations were more formal, consider using 'discussions' or 'dialogues' instead.

Common error

Avoid using "a few conversations" when referring to a significant or uncountable number of discussions. "A few" implies a small, limited quantity. For larger quantities use "several" or "many".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few conversations" functions as a noun phrase, where 'a few' acts as a determiner specifying a limited quantity of the noun 'conversations'. According to Ludwig AI, this is a common and grammatically correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

13%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a few conversations" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a limited number of discussions. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and broad applicability. While most frequently found in news and media, its usage extends to academic and general contexts. When using this phrase, consider the intended level of formality and ensure it accurately reflects the quantity of conversations. Alternatives such as "several discussions" or "some chats" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several discussions

Replaces 'few' with 'several', indicating a slightly larger but still limited number of discussions.

a couple of talks

Substitutes 'few' with 'couple' and 'conversations' with 'talks', implying two discussions.

some chats

Uses 'some' instead of 'a few' and 'chats' instead of 'conversations', suggesting informal discussions.

a handful of dialogues

Replaces 'few' with 'handful' and 'conversations' with 'dialogues', emphasizing a small number of formal exchanges.

limited discussions

Focuses on the restricted number of discussions, replacing 'a few' with 'limited'.

brief exchanges

Highlights the brevity of the exchanges, differing from the length of the conversations.

some interactions

Replaces 'conversations' with 'interactions', broadening the scope to include non-verbal communication.

a small number of talks

Emphasizes the small quantity of talks, providing a more descriptive alternative.

occasional chats

Suggests that the chats happened infrequently, modifying the frequency of the conversations.

certain discussions

Emphasizes that the discussions are specific and known, changing the focus from quantity to specificity.

FAQs

What does "a few conversations" mean?

The phrase "a few conversations" indicates a small, indefinite number of discussions or dialogues, usually more than two but less than several.

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

You can use "a few conversations" to describe past interactions, such as "After "a few discussions", we reached an agreement."

What are some alternatives to "a few conversations"?

Alternatives include phrases like "several discussions", "a couple of talks", or "some chats" depending on the context and formality.

Is it more appropriate to say "a few conversations" or "few conversations"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "a few conversations" is more common and generally preferred. "Few conversations" can sound more formal or negative, implying a scarcity or lack of conversations.