a few increased

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few increased" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a small number of increases, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "There were a few increased sales this quarter, but overall, the numbers remain low."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Some models received much larger cuts of $1,200 to $2,000, while a few increased in price.

The New York Times

Only a few increased the risk significantly: mental disorders, thrombosis, skin diseases, systemic rheumatic diseases and transplantation, metabolic disorders.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The British plan includes a few increases, notably for the government-run health care system.

The New York Times

A few increases in sawing machine vibration cause a significant increase in the maintenance cost, which is important, because it determines the production cost.

Measurement

A few increases in price, stricter limits on what movies users can see, a few other nips and tucks here and there including a few tweaks to the system to fix its bumbling customer service issues and it could remain viable thanks to name recognition.

Vice

We also analyzed pS/TQ signals in differentiated cells and observed a few increase of the signal in ECs and EEs with age and oxidative stresses.

Aging

However, a few LODs increased; for example, certain urinary phthalate esters, such as mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) and MEP, increased between 2003 2004 and 2005 2006.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The Citizens Union report notes that within a few decades, increased atmospheric carbon dioxide could melt polar ice and raise sea levels.

The New York Times

After dabbling in GM for a few years, increased Ford ownership in June; has lost $160 million so far.

Forbes

I got featured on a few blogs, increased my customer base and sales kept growing.

Huffington Post

They have only confirmed existing values or, in a few cases, increased reference values.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing increases, ensure the verb form agrees with the subject. Instead of "a few increased", opt for "a few items increased" or "there was a slight increase" for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "increased" directly after "a few" without a noun. The phrase "a few" needs a noun to modify, such as "a few products" or "a few prices".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few increased" functions as a descriptor intended to convey that a small number of items or entities have experienced an increase. However, Ludwig AI correctly identifies that the phrase is grammatically incorrect as it stands alone.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few increased" aims to describe a limited number of entities undergoing growth. However, Ludwig AI identifies that the phrase is grammatically questionable and requires adjustment for clarity and correctness. Better alternatives include phrases like "a slight increase" or specifying a noun after "a few", such as "a few items increased". When writing, ensure subject-verb agreement and clarity to avoid grammatical errors. While the phrase appears across various sources, adapting it for greater precision is crucial, especially in formal or scientific contexts. Always prioritize grammatical correctness for clearer communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight increase

Focuses on the small degree of the increase.

a small number increased

Emphasizes the quantity of items that have increased.

several items increased

Replaces "a few" with a more general term indicating more than two but not many.

some have increased

Uses "some" to indicate a portion has risen.

a handful increased

Uses "handful" as a more descriptive alternative to a small quantity.

a minority increased

Highlights that it's a small fraction that has increased.

limited growth

Focuses on describing the growth rather than the quantity of items growing.

marginal increase

Indicates that the increase was barely noticeable.

a couple increased

Uses a more precise quantity.

a small set increased

Replaces "few" with "set" to focus on the collection.

FAQs

How can I properly use "a few" to describe an increase?

Use "a few" with a noun, followed by a verb in the correct tense. For example, "a few items increased" or "a few prices rose".

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "a few increased"?

Consider using phrases like "a slight increase", "a small number increased", or "some have increased".

Is "a few increased" grammatically correct?

Ludwig AI points out that "a few increased" is grammatically questionable. It is better to use a noun after "a few", followed by the verb "increased".

What's the difference between "a few increased" and "a few of them increased"?

"A few increased" is grammatically awkward and less clear. "A few of them increased" is grammatically correct because "them" acts as a pronoun representing a specific group, making the sentence clearer.