a few hosts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few hosts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of hosts, typically in contexts related to technology, events, or gatherings. Example: "For the conference, we will have a few hosts to guide the sessions and assist the attendees."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

A few hosts tried to keep politics out of the holiday.

The New York Times

A few hosts at SLAC (in the DoE site office) are connected to the DOE Corporate Network.

Stanford University

The design of the TCP/IP architecture allowed enough flexibility that enabled the Internet to grow from a few hosts to more than a billion hosts, supporting a myriad of services over a variety of media.

Interconnecting Smart Objects with IP The Next Internet

At least a few hosts know for sure where they're going: Mr. Leno is taking his act to prime time starting next fall, and Mr. O'Brien takes over "Tonight" in June.

The New York Times

If anything, the breadth and sometimes eccentricity of gifts received by members of the royal household last year hints that more than a few hosts and visitors struggled for ideas of what to give the family that has it all.

The Guardian

To test for sickness behavior in her mice, Lopes injected a few hosts with a bit of bacterial cell wall — which, much like a vaccine, elicited an immune response from the mice without actually making them sick.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

It turns out, pollen-feeding wasps are specialists that feed on just a few host plants.

Cornell University

Careful study of this and several other cuckoos indicates, however, that despite the wide range of hosts recorded, a few host species bear most of the load of raising the young of each cuckoo species.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The researchers showed – for the first time – that pollinivory was an important step, but the rapid diversification of bees is better explained by a later development when bees shifted from being specialists narrowly focused on a few host-plant species to generalists that fed on many host plants.

Cornell University

A rapid and efficient exfoliation process of protonated layered ferrititanates with lepidocrocite-like structure and formation of organic inorganic nanohybrids is performed starting from the nanosheets composed of only a few host layers and nanometric lateral dimensions using quaternary ammonium compounds.

Materials & Design

A few host cities have reconstituted Olympic spaces into public works projects.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few hosts", ensure the context clearly indicates what distinguishes these hosts from others. Be specific about their characteristics or roles.

Common error

Avoid using "a few hosts" when the number is more precisely known. If you know there are exactly three hosts, specify "three hosts" rather than using the less precise "a few hosts".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few hosts" functions as a determiner phrase modifying the noun "hosts". It specifies a small, indefinite quantity of hosts. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

25%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a few hosts" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that refers to a small, indefinite number of hosts. As Ludwig AI states, it can be used in different contexts, including technology, events, or gatherings. It is most commonly found in scientific contexts, followed by news and media. While generally acceptable in formal writing, it's advisable to use a specific number for enhanced precision when the quantity is known. Alternatives like "several hosts" or "a handful of hosts" can be used depending on the specific meaning you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several hosts

Indicates a slightly larger, but still limited, number of hosts.

a couple of hosts

Specifies a smaller number, typically two, of hosts.

a handful of hosts

Implies a small, manageable number of hosts.

some hosts

A more general term indicating an unspecified small quantity of hosts.

a limited number of hosts

Emphasizes the restricted quantity of hosts.

a small group of hosts

Highlights the hosts as a collective, but small, entity.

a minority of hosts

Suggests the hosts are fewer compared to a larger group.

a sprinkling of hosts

Implies a very sparse distribution of hosts.

certain hosts

Indicates specific, but not many, hosts being referred to.

select hosts

Highlights the chosen nature of the small number of hosts.

FAQs

How do I use "a few hosts" in a sentence?

Use "a few hosts" to refer to a small, indefinite number of entities that provide resources or environments for something else. For example, "A few hosts experienced technical difficulties during the server migration".

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

"A few hosts" implies a smaller number than "several hosts". "A few" is generally understood to be three or four, while "several" can be more, but still not many.

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

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "several hosts", "a couple of hosts", or "a handful of hosts".

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

Yes, "a few hosts" is generally acceptable in formal writing, but for greater precision, consider using a specific number if known.