a few estimates

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few estimates" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of approximations or calculations regarding a particular subject or data set. Example: "After reviewing the project requirements, I have gathered a few estimates on the budget and timeline needed for completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Links to self-indulgent despots have driven up a few estimates for a Bonhams auction of 154 Chinese snuff bottles on Tuesday.

The New York Times - Arts

NEGOTIATE Having a few estimates in hand should give you a sense of what the work will cost, but don't feel as if you have to settle, said Cheryl Reed of Angie's List, an online consumer rating service.

The New York Times

A few estimates marked in the figure are worth discussing.

Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics

Even for the simplest type of tooling only a few estimates are available, using a two-dimensional model.

Metal Cutting

Wagenaar et al. adjust for outliers by excluding a few estimates, but they fail to address publication bias.

Health Economics Review

The career path that was for so long the default is now viable only for a few; estimates of the percentage of Ph.D. scientists who eventually win tenure-track positions range from around 40% (for mathematicians) to the low single digits (in certain fields in the United Kingdom).

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But, none of them actually gave the performance of their approach in terms of recognition rate and a few estimated the execution time of their algorithm.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

However among the >30 retrieval services available for MEDLINE, only a few estimate a relevance score, and none detects and incorporates the relation between the query words as part of the relevance score.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

There are only a few analyst estimates out there because the company isn't well-covered, but by my estimates, it's trading at a single-digit multiple, while growing in excess of 100% per year".

Forbes

The toxicity parameters were estimated in a stepwise manner starting with simple chemotherapies which require only a few parameters estimates.

BMC Systems Biology

Before 1981 extrapolation at ward level resulted in a few implausible estimates, so numbers within wards were assumed to be the same proportion of the county district estimates as in the nearest census.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few estimates", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being estimated. For instance, specify "a few estimates for the project cost" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a few estimates" without providing any specific details or context. Saying "we have a few estimates" leaves the audience wondering about the subject and reliability of the estimates.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few estimates" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, aligning with numerous examples where it refers to a limited number of approximations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a few estimates" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a small number of approximations or calculations. Ludwig AI confirms its broad applicability across various contexts, particularly in science, news media, and formal business settings. While versatile, it's important to provide sufficient context to ensure clarity. Alternative phrases like "several approximations" or "a handful of calculations" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and precision. The phrase is relatively common, appearing in authoritative sources such as The New York Times and Science Magazine.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several approximations

Replaces "few" with "several", indicating a slightly larger but still limited quantity.

a couple of projections

Substitutes "estimates" with "projections", implying a forward-looking calculation.

a limited number of assessments

Replaces "few" with "limited number" and "estimates" with "assessments", adding a formal tone.

a handful of calculations

Uses "handful" as a more informal substitute for "few", and "calculations" for "estimates".

some initial appraisals

Replaces "few" with "some" and "estimates" with "appraisals", suggesting a preliminary evaluation.

a small set of valuations

Substitutes "few" with "small set" and "estimates" with "valuations", implying a formal assessment of value.

limited predictions

Condenses the phrase, replacing "estimates" with "predictions" to emphasize forecasting.

a scattering of approximations

Uses "scattering" to suggest a less organized collection of estimates.

several rough calculations

Adds "rough" to indicate the estimates are not precise.

a selection of forecasts

Replaces "estimates" with "forecasts", focusing on predictions about the future.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few estimates" to refer to a small number of approximations or calculations. For example, "After consulting with several contractors, we obtained "a few estimates" for the renovation project."

What are some alternatives to "a few estimates"?

Alternatives include "several approximations", "a limited number of assessments", or "a handful of calculations", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "a couple of estimates" or "a few estimates"?

Both "a couple of estimates" and "a few estimates" are acceptable, but "a couple" typically implies exactly two, while "a few" suggests a small number greater than two but less than several. The choice depends on the actual number of estimates you have.

What does it mean to have "a few estimates" in a project?

Having "a few estimates" in a project typically means you have gathered a small number of cost or time approximations from different sources to help you plan and budget effectively. It allows for comparison and helps in making informed decisions.