a few documentary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few documentary" is not correct in English.
It should be "a few documentaries." You can use the corrected phrase when referring to a small number of documentary films or works. Example: "I watched a few documentaries on climate change last weekend."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

He presented a few documentary series.

The Guardian

A few documentary filmmakers have begun to treat the topic obliquely.

The New York Times

"There are a few documentary ideas kicking around, and that will probably be the way to go, but this is a serious period-drama with a lot of moving parts so it's a big thing to put together.

The Guardian - Film

His debut feature, "Great World of Sound" (2007), about a pair of hustlers peddling fake record deals, is an offbeat look at celebrity as American dream and American lie, with a few documentary audition scenes that essentially perpetrate the con that the film depicts.

The New York Times

"We are actively looking right now at a few documentary projects.

BBC

Summer 2015 - Kevin Wu has been working in LA on many different projects and in post production on a few documentary projects, and he is currently a SAG/AFTRA stunt coordinator/stunt performer.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

A few documentaries have been made and a feature film, Amu by Shonali Bose appeared a few years earlier.

The New York Times

In other Iraq movies, including quite a few documentaries, the local population is almost entirely invisible.

The New York Times

He did props and designed sets for television, and went on to make a few documentaries and one short feature.

The New Yorker

Ms. O'Brien said in an interview Thursday that she would continue to host a few documentaries each year, but not as many as she does now.

The New York Times

I thought they might be nervous as I've done a few documentaries about inequality and corporations, but they were remarkably relaxed and gave me unprecedented access.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the plural form "documentaries" when referring to more than one documentary film. This ensures grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "documentary" in the singular form after "a few". This construction is grammatically incorrect and can confuse your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a quantifier followed by a noun. However, the grammatical incorrectness of using the singular form "documentary" with "a few" affects its proper functionality. As Ludwig AI explains, the correct usage is with the plural form.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

20%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a few documentary" is grammatically incorrect; the proper form is "a few documentaries". This correction is essential for clear and accurate communication. While Ludwig examples show the incorrect usage exists, it's crucial to adopt the plural form when referring to more than one documentary. As Ludwig AI highlights, alternatives such as "some documentary films" or "several documentary movies" can also be used. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Academic contexts, but remember to always use the plural form to ensure grammatical correctness and avoid confusing your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few documentaries

Corrects the grammatical error by using the plural form of "documentary".

some documentary films

Replaces "few" with "some" and uses the more formal "films" instead of "documentaries".

several documentary movies

Uses "several" to indicate a small number and replaces "documentaries" with "documentary movies".

a handful of documentaries

Emphasizes the small quantity using "handful".

a couple of documentaries

Indicates exactly two documentaries.

a small number of documentaries

More formal way of indicating a limited quantity.

a selection of documentaries

Focuses on the act of choosing from a set of documentaries.

various documentary features

Uses "various" and the more specific term "documentary features".

a limited number of documentaries

Highlights that the quantity is restricted.

certain documentaries

Indicates some specific documentaries, without specifying the number.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a few documentary"?

The correct phrasing is "a few documentaries". The word "documentary" should be pluralized when used with "a few" to indicate more than one film.

What are some alternatives to "a few documentaries"?

You can use phrases like "several documentary movies", "some documentary films", or "a handful of documentaries" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "a few documentary" grammatically correct?

No, "a few documentary" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "a few documentaries" because "few" implies more than one, requiring the plural form of the noun.

When should I use "a few documentaries"?

Use "a few documentaries" when you want to indicate that you are referring to a small, indefinite number of documentary films. For example, "I watched a few documentaries about World War II".