a few dives

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few dives" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of diving activities, whether in a literal sense (like scuba diving) or metaphorically (like trying something out). Example: "After a few dives into the ocean, I felt more comfortable exploring the underwater world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Travel

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Rather, she and three fellow divers were taking a few dives for fun, her son said.

The New York Times - Sports

Most bars stay open until 3 a.m. and a few dives even stay open all night.

The New York Times - Travel

After a few dives, even the most nervous among us had to concede admiration for these magnificent creatures.

The Guardian - Arts

"It was good to get a few dives and get a couple of competitions under my belt for my individual," Waterfield told BBC Sport.

BBC

I'm not much of a diver, but I have been on a few dives.

Huffington Post

It took me a few dives to get comfortable, and my first two dives were pretty awful.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

A few dive in on the downbeat, shouting "Whoop!" as if to mimic the call of a whale.

The New York Times - Travel

Not much more than a short string of houses and a few dive shops paralleling a magnificent white beach, it was made a National Marine Sanctuary in 1995, to preserve the northernmost living coral reef in North America.

The New York Times - Travel

Because I'm guessing you've jumped off a few diving boards.

University of Chicago

Between the two of us, there were blisters galore (despite having followed all the preventive and/or curative advice), a plaguing knee and ankle issue, some material carnage due to a raging storm, some very hot days, and a few "dive" hostels in the mix.

Huffington Post

A few SCUBA dives, breathing air for the whole duration of the dive, were investigated (31 dives).

Sports Medicine - Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few dives", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you are referring to recreational diving, competitive diving, or a metaphorical 'diving' into a subject or activity.

Common error

Avoid using "a few dives" when you mean a significant number of dives. If you are referring to more than a small handful, use terms like "several dives" or "many dives" to avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few dives" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatically correct usage in various contexts. It indicates a limited quantity of diving activities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

21%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Travel

14%

Academia

7%

Sports

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few dives" is a grammatically sound and relatively common noun phrase used to denote a small number of diving instances. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and diverse applicability. It appears frequently in contexts related to News & Media, Science, and Travel. While its register is generally neutral, it's essential to ensure that the quantity implied by "a few" accurately reflects the actual number to avoid misleading the audience. Related phrases, such as "several dives" or "a couple of dives", can provide more precise or nuanced alternatives depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several dives

Emphasizes a slightly larger quantity than "a few".

a couple of dives

Indicates a smaller, more specific number (two) of dives.

some dives

A more general term, less specific about the number of dives.

a handful of dives

Implies a small, manageable number of dives.

a limited number of dives

Highlights the restricted quantity of dives.

a small series of dives

Focuses on the dives being part of a connected sequence.

occasional dives

Suggests dives happen from time to time, not frequently.

infrequent dives

Dives that don't happen very often.

a scattering of dives

Implies the dives are spread out or not concentrated.

a sprinkling of dives

Suggests very few dives were performed.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few dives" to describe a small number of diving activities. For example, "After "a few dives", I started to feel more comfortable underwater".

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

You can use alternatives like "several dives", "a couple of dives", or "some dives" depending on the context and the number you want to imply.

Is it appropriate to use "a few dives" metaphorically?

Yes, you can use it metaphorically to mean exploring something briefly or trying something out a small number of times. For instance, "After "a few dives" into the data, we identified a trend".

What is the difference between "a few dives" and "many dives"?

"A few dives" indicates a small number, typically less than five, while "many dives" suggests a larger, unspecified number. The choice depends on the actual quantity and the impression you want to convey.