a few figure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few figure" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "a few figures"? If this is the case, you can use it when referring to a small number of numerical representations or illustrations. Example: "In the report, I included a few figures to support my findings."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Now can we take just a few figure shots?" I didn't understand.

The New Yorker

In his painting Weir never strayed far from the figure, and a few figure and portrait subjects are also shown here, but the focus of the show is rightly on landscape.

The New York Times - Arts

These included annexin A2, fibrinogen, chaperonin, heat shock protein, lamin A/C and DEAD box polypeptide 17, to name a few (Figure 7A and B).

Plosone

We have eliminated a few figure panels and moved some to the supplemental material.

Biology Direct

In most developing regions, rural women have less access to skilled health personnel in delivery, even though the long-standing differences between rural and urban areas have declined in all regions and even been eliminated in a few (Figure 10).

FAO

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Followed by a few figure-skating judges.

The New York Times - Sports

It names only a few figures.

The Economist

A few figures help explain this apparent paradox.

The Guardian

It is a great-man-theory movie, settling heavily on a few figures -- Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis.

The New York Times - Arts

IN THE forest of statistics that describe the economy, a few figures sometimes stand out.

The Economist

Only a few figures stir in this desolation, some of them bizarre.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure that "figure" is pluralized to "figures" when referring to more than one, especially after quantifiers like "a few", "some", or "several".

Common error

Avoid using the singular form "figure" after quantifiers like "a few". Always use the plural form "figures" to maintain grammatical correctness. For example, it should be "a few figures", not "a few figure".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few figure" functions as a determiner phrase attempting to quantify a noun. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is "a few figures".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few figure" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "a few figures", which indicates a small number of numerical representations or illustrations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, using the plural form ensures grammatical accuracy. While examples of the incorrect phrase exist, they highlight the importance of using "figures" in plural contexts. Remember to avoid this common mistake in your writing to maintain clarity and professionalism. Alternative phrases include "several figures" and "some figures".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several figures

Replaces "a few" with "several" to indicate a small number, maintaining the plural form of "figures".

some figures

Uses "some" to denote an unspecified quantity of figures, correcting the grammatical structure.

a couple of figures

Substitutes "a few" with "a couple", explicitly indicating two figures.

a small number of figures

Rephrases the expression to emphasize the limited quantity of figures.

a handful of figures

Employs "a handful" to suggest a small, easily manageable number of figures.

a limited set of figures

Indicates that the figures are part of a restricted or finite group.

a select few figures

Highlights that the figures have been chosen or are distinguished in some way.

certain figures

Uses "certain" to refer to specific but unspecified figures.

some key figures

Adds "key" to emphasize the importance or significance of the figures.

a minority of figures

Implies that the figures represent a smaller portion of a larger group.

FAQs

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

The correct way to say it is "a few figures". The word "figure" should be in its plural form when preceded by "a few".

Can I use "a few figure" in a sentence?

No, it's grammatically incorrect. You should use "a few figures" instead. For example: "The report includes "a few figures" to illustrate the trend".

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

You can use alternatives like "several figures", "some figures", or "a couple of figures" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "a few figure" and "a few figures"?

"A few figure" is grammatically incorrect, while "a few figures" is the correct plural form. Always use the plural form when referring to more than one figure.