a few ideals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few ideals" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a small number of principles or concepts that guide someone's beliefs or actions. Example: "In our discussion, we explored a few ideals that shape our understanding of justice and equality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Quite a lot of history to remember in a week... and quite a few ideals to try to reclaim.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The results of this study suggest that selecting a few ideal image features is sufficient for LAI estimation.

International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation

Configurations thus derive their usefulness from describing a few ideal types which should match their real counterparts approximately (Bunge 1996; Meyer et al. 1993; Miller and Friesen 1984).

Business Research

Application of the rules allows the very large compositional space to be reduced to just a few ideal compositions, which are likely to be close to the optimal ones.

Acta Materialia

But most of all we're taking our leap in the dark because we've belatedly realised that the sermon on the mount might actually be a manifesto for life, rather than a few nice ideals to take out for a spin on a Sunday morning.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

These subgroups within the general coalition may agree on a few certain ideals, but they may also disagree on many others, as they may disagree on tactics to right their perceived wrongs.

Huffington Post

When our culture has so few ideals of physical beauty, anything different is a start.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If you're lucky, it might also mean a faster shop if you have narrowed down your shopping options to a few key, ideal places near you.

WikiHow

Many animal models of IVD degeneration have been reported; however, there are few ideal animal models which precisely mimic a pathological state of human IVD degeneration.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

To determine the few ideal features with the best estimation accuracy, partial least squares regression (PLSR) and variable importance in projection (VIP) were applied to predict LAI values.

International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation

One of the few Ideal plot—"plot"—points Yiannopoulos is careful to include is the rape scene, which he describes as a "pseudo-rape," a "consensually ambiguous" encounter that "the sex-negative, authoritarian modern feminist movement" refuses to believe "might be thrilling for both parties".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a few ideals", ensure the context clearly defines or implies what those ideals are. Providing specific examples strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a few ideals" without providing context or explanation. This can lead to vagueness. Instead, briefly clarify the ideals you're referring to for better understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few ideals" functions as a noun phrase, where "a few" acts as a determiner quantifying the noun "ideals". This phrase introduces the concept of a limited set of guiding principles or aspirations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few ideals" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to refer to a limited number of guiding principles or aspirations. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is deemed correct and usable. While versatile, it appears most frequently in news, media, and scientific contexts. For clarity in writing, it's advisable to provide specific examples or context to define these ideals. Alternative phrases like "several principles" or "a handful of values" can offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several principles

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

some aspirations

Substitutes "ideals" with "aspirations", focusing on goals or ambitions.

a handful of values

Replaces "a few" with "a handful", suggesting a small, manageable quantity; "ideals" becomes "values", emphasizing moral principles.

limited number of concepts

Replaces "a few ideals" with a more explicit description emphasizing the restricted quantity of ideas.

select guiding philosophies

Substitutes "ideals" with "guiding philosophies", highlighting the role of these concepts in directing thought and action.

certain key tenets

Replaces "ideals" with "key tenets", focusing on fundamental beliefs or doctrines.

a small set of beliefs

Emphasizes that the ideals are part of a larger belief system, keeping the quantity small.

a sprinkling of doctrines

Uses "sprinkling" to convey a sense of sparse distribution and lightness of touch in comparison to rigid ideals.

fundamental axioms

Replaces "ideals" with "fundamental axioms", shifting the focus to foundational truths or principles.

core principles

Highlights the essential and central nature of the principles, suggesting they are foundational.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few ideals" to refer to a limited number of guiding principles or concepts. For example, "The organization was founded on "a few ideals" of social justice and equality."

What are some alternatives to saying "a few ideals"?

Alternatives include "several principles", "some aspirations", or "a handful of values", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to be specific instead of saying "a few ideals"?

While "a few ideals" is grammatically correct, being more specific enhances clarity. Instead of "a few ideals", consider stating the actual ideals unless they are already well understood in context.

Can "a few ideals" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "a few ideals" is suitable for formal writing, but ensure the context makes the meaning clear. In some cases, a more precise phrase might be preferable for academic or professional documents.