a few hesitations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few hesitations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe moments of uncertainty or pauses in speech or thought, often in the context of communication or decision-making. Example: "During the presentation, there were a few hesitations that made the audience question the speaker's confidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But, I also have not just a few hesitations about being a liberal Northeastern gay Episcopalian in the South at a Methodist seminary -- this despite friends assuring me that Atlanta is different than the rest of the South.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

As a society we have few hesitations in laying the blame on our young people when things go badly.

Independent

He speaks quickly but smoothly, with so few hesitations and such a command of detail that it is easy to picture ministers and prime ministers – tired or inexperienced, perhaps, or distracted by party-political matters – listening a little passively, and then doing whatever "Jeremy" suggests.

The Guardian

With few hesitations, she scrawled down six columns of words — 120 of them.

The New York Times - Sports

Scientists can move from one laboratory to another and start working the next day with few hesitations or problems.

Harvard Business Review

Baroness Thatcher plunged ahead with few hesitations, but Mrs Merkel allows herself to think things through and even to have doubts.

The Economist

Despite the unpleasant and dangerous conditions of his work and being witness to such widespread human trauma, Ramirez has few hesitations about heading out on the next mission.

Los Angeles Times

After a few months' hesitation, Turkey consented to his nomination late last year.

The Guardian

With no more than a few minutes' hesitation, she gets to work, disposing of the corpse as if it were a particularly cumbersome household nuisance.

The New Yorker

Behind, there was a few seconds' hesitation among his closest opponents, led by Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway and Alejandro Valverde of Spain, and that was enough.

The Guardian - Sport

After a few moments' hesitation, Bostrom quietly suggested that I should opt for moral behavior.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In business writing, use "a few hesitations" to acknowledge minor concerns or potential drawbacks in a proposal, demonstrating transparency and critical thinking.

Common error

Avoid using "a few hesitations" when the situation warrants a stronger expression of concern. If the doubts are significant, opt for phrases like "considerable reservations" or "serious concerns" to accurately reflect the gravity of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few hesitations" functions as a noun phrase, where "a few" acts as a quantifier modifying the noun "hesitations". It indicates a limited number of pauses or uncertainties. Ludwig AI validates this as a common and grammatically correct expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a few hesitations" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase that conveys a mild degree of uncertainty, doubt, or pause. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears across various contexts, most commonly in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. While semantically similar alternatives such as "minor reservations" and "slight uncertainty" exist, "a few hesitations" provides a balanced and easily understandable way to acknowledge small concerns or delays without overstating the issue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some slight doubts

Emphasizes the presence of doubts that are not strong or significant.

minor reservations

Indicates small concerns or objections that someone might have.

slight uncertainty

Focuses on the lack of complete confidence or sureness.

brief pauses

Highlights short breaks or interruptions in speech or action.

a couple of doubts

Expresses uncertainty limited to two doubts.

some initial reluctance

Suggests an unwillingness or disinclination at the beginning.

a small amount of uncertainty

Quantifies uncertainty to be very small.

a touch of doubt

Implies a very slight degree of doubt.

limited second thoughts

Suggests rethinking an action or decision to a small degree.

fleeting uncertainties

Highlights moments of uncertainty that pass quickly.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few hesitations" to describe slight uncertainty or pauses. For example: "During the presentation, there were "a few hesitations" that made the audience question the speaker's confidence."

What phrases are similar to "a few hesitations"?

Alternatives include "minor reservations", "slight uncertainty", or "brief pauses", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a few hesitations" or "some hesitations"?

Both "a few hesitations" and "some hesitations" are grammatically correct. "A few hesitations" specifies a small number of hesitations, while "some hesitations" is less precise. Choose based on the level of detail you want to convey.

When should I avoid using "a few hesitations"?

Avoid using "a few hesitations" if the level of doubt or concern is significant. In such cases, consider stronger phrases like "serious doubts" or "major concerns" to accurately reflect the situation.