a few dozen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few dozen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small, but not insignificant, quantity of something, such as "I bought a few dozen apples at the farmer's market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Just a few dozen.

The New Yorker

No more than a few dozen times.

The New Yorker

Original Gezi "campers" were a few dozen.

The New York Times

Only a few dozen readers signed up.

The New York Times

She expected a few dozen people.

The New York Times

No more than a few dozen.

The New Yorker

Vaccaro made a few dozen calls.

The New York Times - Sports

A few dozen guests fled outside.

The New Yorker

Only a few dozen were accepted.

The New York Times

A few dozen hands rose.

The New York Times

A few dozen protesters threw gasoline bombs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a few dozen" when you want to indicate a quantity that is more than a handful but not a large amount. It's a good middle ground when you don't need to be precise.

Common error

Avoid using "a few dozen" when the exact number is known or easily verifiable. This phrase is best suited for estimations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few dozen" functions as a quantifier, modifying nouns to indicate an approximate quantity. Ludwig indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few dozen" is a grammatically sound and frequently used quantifier in the English language. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to indicate an approximate quantity that is more than just a few but not excessively large. Its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for a variety of contexts, especially within News & Media. When precision is paramount, consider more exact numbers; otherwise, "a few dozen" offers a convenient and widely understood way to express quantity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several dozen

Emphasizes a slightly larger quantity than "a few dozen".

a couple dozen

Implies closer to two dozen, offering a slightly more specific quantity.

some dozens

A more generic way to express an unspecified number of dozens.

around thirty

Replaces the phrase with an approximate numerical value.

approximately forty

Specifies a slightly higher approximation around the upper range of "a few dozen".

a handful of dozens

Adds emphasis on the limited, manageable quantity.

a small number of dozens

More explicitly states that the quantity is small.

a limited number of dozens

Emphasizes the restricted nature of the quantity.

dozens, but not many

Clarifies that the quantity is in the dozens but not a large amount.

not quite fifty

Highlights that the quantity is less than fifty, placing an upper bound.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few dozen" to describe a quantity greater than a few but less than many. For example, "A few dozen people attended the meeting".

What's a more precise alternative to "a few dozen"?

If you need to be more precise, use a specific number like "thirty" or "forty". Alternatively, consider "several dozen" if the quantity is slightly larger.

Is it ever incorrect to use "a few dozen"?

It's not grammatically incorrect, but it might be inappropriate if you know the exact number. Using "a few dozen" implies an estimate rather than a precise count.

What is the difference between "a few dozen" and "a couple of dozen"?

"A couple of dozen" typically implies closer to 24 (two dozens), while "a few dozen" suggests a slightly broader range, perhaps 24 to 48.