a few customers

USAGE SUMMARY

"a few customers" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a small number of people or customers, as in the following example sentence: "Only a few customers visited the store this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then the robot rolls across the floor, emitting a few R2-D2-like beeps.

MIT Technology Review

Timing protocols have been implemented on TinyOS with an accuracy of a few 10  [39] 39].

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The FePt/Fe core-shell structure was reported by a few literatures[17, 18].

Nanoscale Research Letters

In my oh-so-limited existence, I have met quite a few 40-, 50-, even 60-somethings who don't have all of these boxes checked.

Forbes

Stability analysis of Kalman filter for networked systems with random packet losses has been provided in, to name just a few, [77, 78, 79, 80, 81].

Complex & Intelligent Systems

The Er-doping concentrations considered are those useful for the realization of optically active devices (that is, with an Er/Si ratio of a few percent[26, 27]).

Nanoscale Research Letters

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are emerging SMMs, which are soft, organic, and biodegradable, and suitable for biomedical, textile, and surface patterning, to name a few [119, 120].

Nano-Micro Letters

The potential benefits of manufacturing intelligence include improvements in operational efficiency, process innovation, and environmental impact, to name a few [4, 5].

Journal of Big Data

My five-year old told the older lady sitting next to her that she could count to 100: "1, 2, skip a few, 99, 100!" The grandmother-type woman laughed and laughed.

Huffington Post

The iPGM enzymes belong to the alkaline phosphatase superfamily along with enzymes such as phosphopentomutases and certain sulfatases to name a few [7], [8], [9].

Plosone

There were a few (18/300, 6.0%) individuals who were vegetarians.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few customers", ensure the context clearly implies a small, non-negligible number. It suggests more than just one or two, but not a significant portion of the overall customer base.

Common error

Avoid using "a few customers" when the actual number is close to zero. If you're discussing a situation where almost no customers are present, consider phrases like "very few customers" or "hardly any customers" for greater accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few customers" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a noun. It quantifies the noun "customers", indicating a small but indefinite number. The Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few customers" is grammatically sound and serves to indicate a small quantity of customers, as confirmed by Ludwig. Although there are currently no specific examples available, this phrase is commonly used in various contexts from general conversation to professional communication. When you need to indicate a small number of customers without being exact, "a few customers" is a useful and widely understood expression. Remember to consider alternative phrasings like "several clients" or "a small number of buyers" if a more formal tone is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several clients

Replaces "customers" with "clients" for a slightly more formal tone.

a handful of patrons

Uses "handful" to emphasize the small number and "patrons" to suggest regular customers.

some consumers

Replaces "customers" with the more general term "consumers".

a small number of buyers

More explicitly quantifies the customers as a "small number" and uses "buyers" instead of "customers".

a limited clientele

Emphasizes the restriction in the number of customers, employing "clientele" for a sophisticated nuance.

a minority of shoppers

Highlights that the customers are fewer than the total amount.

just a couple of clients

Indicates an even smaller group than "a few", specifying about two customers.

a select group of purchasers

Implies the customers are carefully chosen and replaces "customers" with "purchasers".

only a few purchasers

Emphasizes the restricted number with "only", while still referring to buyers.

not many consumers

Expresses a small quantity of consumers using a negative construction.

FAQs

How do I use "a few customers" in a sentence?

You can use "a few customers" to indicate a small number of customers, for example: "Only "a few customers" complained about the new policy."

What's a more formal alternative to "a few customers"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "several clients" or "a small number of buyers".

Is "a few customers" the same as "few customers"?

No, "a few customers" implies a small but positive number, while "few customers" suggests a number that is almost none or insufficient. The article "a" makes a significant difference.

Can I use "a few customers" when I don't know the exact number?

Yes, "a few customers" is appropriate when you want to convey that the number of customers is small without specifying an exact figure. It implies more than just one or two, but not a large group.