a few engagements

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few engagements" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of formal meetings, events, or commitments, often in a professional or social context. Example: "She has a few engagements scheduled for the week, including meetings with clients and a networking event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

She became a member of the Royal Family in comparative middle age and continued to fulfil public duties well into her eighties, and even a few engagements a year past her 100th birthday.

The Times

Although they were greatly outnumbered, poorly equipped, and successful in only a few engagements, the rebels gained support among the artisan, worker, lower gentry, and official classes in the cities and stimulated peasant revolts against the large landlords in rural areas.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To name a few engagements, the Beijing Center invited Columbia faculty to give lectures and have dialogues, deans and vice-deans to introduce schools' visions and education programs, admission officers to engage in information sessions, professors and experts to speak on Bandung spirit, and scholars and entrepreneurs to discuss the appliance of big data and statistics.

Columbia University

Ms. Silvers tends to develop new material on her own and then gather a group of dancers when she is ready to present it -- an approach that limits her to a few engagements each year but gives her access to talented performers.

The New York Times - Arts

We ran across OpenStack in a few engagements, saw the community momentum behind it and decided to go all in.

TechCrunch

Grimaldi refused a contract on these terms and instead appeared alongside JS in a few engagements in Ireland.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

But after high-profile and successful concert and opera dates in America, Britain and elsewhere through the 1990s and early 2000s, Mr. Thielemann retrenched in the last decade, concentrating on a select few engagements in Germany and Austria and rarely traveling abroad.

The New York Times - Arts

"There is not a huge amount of population there and there have been a few minor engagements, a few caches have been found.

The New York Times

Mrs. Paterson has had a few speaking engagements in the last couple weeks, mostly about health and domestic violence issues.

The New York Times

I had a few previous engagements to fulfill, but between those joyless performances, I didn't play.

The Washington Post

He had a few speaking engagements left to fulfill, but otherwise, he said, "I'm not going to continue that research.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few engagements", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the number and type of commitments. It implies a manageable and relatively small number of events.

Common error

Avoid using "a few engagements" when the actual number of commitments is substantial. This can mislead your audience about your availability or workload.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few engagements" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a noun, modifying the noun "engagements" to indicate a limited quantity. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is suitable for written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few engagements" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to denote a small number of scheduled activities or commitments. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for written English and finds its use primarily in News & Media, Academia, and Wiki contexts. While suitable for professional communication, be mindful of overstating the number of commitments and consider alternatives like "several appointments" for extremely formal contexts or when referring to a larger, unspecified number of engagements. When selecting the most suitable synonym, make sure you reflect the correct nuance in the communication by selecting the one with highest similarity score.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several appointments

Emphasizes the scheduled nature of the events and often refers to professional or formal meetings.

a couple of commitments

Highlights the binding nature of the events, suggesting responsibilities to be fulfilled.

some meetings scheduled

Focuses on the planning and scheduling aspect of the engagements, suitable for professional settings.

a handful of events

Conveys a sense of manageability and small scale, ideal for social or personal contexts.

a limited number of activities

Stresses the restricted quantity of events, often used when comparing to a larger set.

a few scheduled appearances

Emphasizes the public-facing nature of the engagements, common in entertainment or promotional contexts.

several lined-up events

Highlights that there is a schedule to be followed and a sequence of actions to be taken.

a small set of obligations

Emphasizes the compulsory nature of the events as something one has to fulfill.

a restricted quantity of affairs

Focuses on the limited number and the business-like aspect of the events.

some programmed appointments

Emphasizes the organized and planned aspect of the events in a formal setting.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few engagements" to indicate a small number of scheduled events. For example, "She has "a few engagements" this week, including a conference and a client meeting."

What are some alternatives to "a few engagements"?

Alternatives include "several appointments", "a couple of commitments", or "some meetings scheduled", depending on the specific context and formality.

Is it appropriate to use "a few engagements" in formal writing?

Yes, "a few engagements" is generally appropriate for formal writing, especially when you need to indicate a small but definite number of commitments. However, consider using more formal alternatives like "several appointments" for extremely formal contexts.

What's the difference between "a few engagements" and "several engagements"?

"A few engagements" implies a smaller number than "several engagements". While "a few" usually means 3-5, "several" suggests a larger, unspecified number. Choose the phrase that most accurately reflects the quantity you're describing.