a few declined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few declined" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of people or items that have refused or rejected something. Example: "Out of the ten invitations sent, a few declined to attend the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Although we had some difficulty in contacting entrepreneurs and scheduling appointments, only a few declined to be interviewed.

Harvard Business Review

While few of Tarantino's actors have publicly defended his recent actions (a few declined to comment for this article), Jamie Foxx, star of Django Unchained, offered his support.

The Guardian - Film

A few declined, although Martin didn't name names.

Los Angeles Times

A few declined, but the majority of people I spoke with agreed to take part.

Vice

Hard consonants may not be followed by i or í in writing, or soft ones by y or ý (except in loanwords such as kilogram and a few declined nouns: tác takes the plural tácy).

Wikipedia

Only a few declined to participate twice.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Even rapidly urbanising countries like China and India have a few declining cities.

The Economist

In Whatever's other social experiment, there were a couple maybes, a few declining because they have a boyfriend, and one woman responded, "We are Christians, we believe in Jesus".

Huffington Post

A well-diversified mutual fund will include a broad bundle of stocks or other products to diminish the risk that a few declining stocks would hurt you significantly.

WikiHow

Senate committee members are prepared to see a few decline the invitation.

The New York Times

In overall strong earnings, it however had a few declines: in the U.S., its single biggest market, sales were actually down quarter-on-quarter.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure to avoid monotony. Instead of always starting with "a few declined", try phrases like "of those invited, a few declined".

Common error

Avoid using "a few declined" when the number is not actually small or when the reason for declining is unknown. Ensure the context supports the idea of a small minority refusing something specific.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few declined" functions as a statement indicating that a small number of individuals or entities refused or rejected something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few declined" is a grammatically sound and usable expression indicating that a small number of entities refused or rejected something. As Ludwig AI states, it's suitable for conveying information about limited rejections. Predominantly found in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts, its neutral register makes it versatile for various writing styles. While alternatives like "some refused" or "several rejected" exist, the core meaning remains consistent. The key is to ensure contextual clarity when using this phrase to avoid any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small number refused

Explicitly states that the number of refusals was small.

a few didn't accept

Directly states the non-acceptance by a small number.

some refused

Focuses on the act of refusal, simplifying the expression.

just a few said no

Simple and direct way to express that a small number refused.

several rejected

Emphasizes the act of rejection with a slightly stronger connotation.

a couple opted out

Highlights the choice to not participate.

a handful turned down

Uses a more informal expression to indicate rejection.

a minority demurred

Implies a polite refusal or objection, more formal.

some passed on it

Informal way to say that some people didn't take the offer/opportunity.

not many accepted

Focuses on the lack of acceptance rather than the act of declining.

FAQs

How to use "a few declined" in a sentence?

You can use "a few declined" to indicate that a small number of individuals refused an invitation, offer, or request. For example, "Of the twenty people invited, a few declined due to prior commitments."

What can I say instead of "a few declined"?

You can use alternatives like "some refused", "several rejected", or "a couple opted out" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a few declined" or "few declined"?

"A few declined" emphasizes that the number is small but present, while "few declined" can imply a surprisingly small number or a disappointment. Both are grammatically correct, but their connotations differ.

What's the difference between "a few declined" and "a few were declining"?

"A few declined" indicates a completed action of refusal. "A few were declining" suggests an ongoing or repeated action of refusal, implying a trend over time. The simple past is generally more appropriate unless you are specifying that the declining happened over a period of time.