a few members

USAGE SUMMARY

"A few members" is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use it to refer to a small number of people in a group, for example: "A few members of the council gathered to discuss the plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

A few members of COG1833 present in Bacteria such as Thermotoga maritima or Methylococcus capsulatus, could have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer from extremophilic Archaea dwelling in the same environment.

BMC Genomics

Under his guidance, it grew from a few members to about 1,000 families, and he developed a reputation as a skilled orator and sensitive spiritual leader.

The New York Times

A year later, a few members of Senshin Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles led by its minister Masao Kodani initiated another group called Kinnara Taiko.

Wikipedia

As Mark Webber said to a few members of the press yesterday, we'll only really get any idea at all of what the teams have by watching the afternoon session when they start thinking about race setups.

The New York Times

The board voted unanimously to reduce Mr. Dimon's pay to $11.5 million from $23.1 million a year earlier, though a few members were initially skittish.

The New York Times

In 1865 a few members left to join the Free Methodist Movement.

Cornell University

But three years ago, a few members of the Goody marketing department went there for, according to the company, "inspiration".

The New York Times

Finally you will see a few members of the Class of 1929 receiving their degrees, something that has changed.

Princeton University

Last year, a few members of the Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Council, a New York City-based group, began delving into the deeper recesses of YouTube.

The New Yorker

For the last 15 years, a few members of the team have traveled to a pair of upstate prisons to play stickball with some of their buddies doing time.

The New York Times

Over the past week, a few members of the Russian press have been surprised with these sweet treats.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few members", ensure that the context clearly defines the group from which the members are drawn. For instance, "A few members of the committee expressed concerns."

Common error

Avoid using "a few members" when you actually mean a substantial portion of the group. "A few" implies a small minority, not a majority.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few members" functions as a determiner phrase modifying the noun "members". It identifies a limited subset of a larger group. Although Ludwig does not provide example usages, the structure implies a standard grammatical role.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a few members" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a small number of individuals within a larger group. While Ludwig lacks examples to showcase specific contexts, the phrase's function and purpose are clear: to specify a limited subset. As the Ludwig AI correctly indicates, this is standard written English. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the group being referenced and avoid using it when a substantial portion of the group is intended. Alternatives like "several members" or "a couple of members" may offer more precise nuance depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several members

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

a small number of members

Replaces "a few" with a more explicit description of quantity.

some members

A more general term indicating an unspecified quantity of members.

a handful of members

Emphasizes the small quantity using a more figurative expression.

a minority of members

Focuses on the group being smaller than half of the total members.

a select few members

Implies that the members are specially chosen or distinguished.

a limited number of members

Similar to "a small number" but emphasizes the restriction.

a couple of members

Indicates exactly two or a very small number of members.

certain members

Highlights that specific, but not all, members are being referred to.

a scattering of members

Implies members are dispersed or not a cohesive group.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few members" to indicate a small subset of a group, for example, "A few members of the team volunteered to stay late."

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

"A few members" implies a smaller number than "several members". "A few" is generally understood to be less than five, while "several" can be more.

Which is more formal, "a few members" or "some members"?

The phrase "a few members" and "some members" are generally considered to have a similar level of formality and can be used interchangeably in many contexts.

What can I say instead of "a few members" to emphasize a very small number?

You could use phrases like "a couple of members" or "a handful of members" to emphasize the small quantity.