a few occurrences

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few occurrences" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of times something has happened or appeared. Example: "In the past month, there have been a few occurrences of unusual behavior in the data."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

In the early nineteen-nineties, a few occurrences sparked something in Ted Chiang's mind.

The New Yorker

Silver, copper, iron, osmium, and several other metals also occur in the native state, and a few occurrences are large enough and sufficiently rich to be ore deposits.

Britannica

We observed a few occurrences of saturated overland flow, but sediments and water dissipated within the streamside management zones in over 75% of these instances.

Forest Ecology and Management

"There are a few occurrences, discounting the use of place names in Israel that still exist and teams or place names in Latin America named after biblical references," adds John Morrow.

The Guardian - Sport

Before saying her prayers, she always recorded in a diary a few occurrences ("Summer here. Forever, I hope. Sue over and we rode Babe down to the river. Sue played her flute. Fireflies") and an occasional outburst ("I love him, I do").

The New Yorker

Nevertheless, for several types of components, only a few occurrences were observed during this period.

Mathematics-in-Industry Case Studies

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The load case in study is a maximum one, with very few occurrences, but even if it were frequent the defects would not grow in fatigue, as the threshold is 317 J/m2.

Applied Adhesion Science

It extends a seed when the seed has few occurrences in the reference sequence.

Bioinformatics

Sometimes a successful art career springs from a few serendipitous occurrences.

The New York Times - Arts

In addition to this thriving stand, we spot a few other occurrences throughout the woods, encouraging news for a plant that is considered endangered in New York State.

The New York Times

Older high-pressure rocks are known from only a few isolated occurrences in, for example, Wales, Bavaria, the ële de Groix off the coast of Brittany, and the Norwegian Caledonides (on the west coast of Norway).

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a few occurrences" to indicate that something happens more than once, but not frequently.

Common error

Avoid using "a few occurrences" when the event is actually rare or unique. Choose a phrase that accurately reflects the frequency, such as "an isolated incident" or "a rare occurrence".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few occurrences" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, indicating a limited quantity of events or instances. It specifies that something has happened more than once, but not frequently, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a few occurrences" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate a small number of events or instances. As Ludwig AI points out, it's suitable for various contexts, including science, news, and encyclopedic content. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the specific context and ensure that the frequency is accurately represented. Alternatives such as "several instances" or "occasional instances" may be more appropriate depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several instances

Indicates a slightly larger quantity than "a few occurrences".

a handful of instances

Implies a small, manageable number of occurrences.

occasional instances

Highlights the sporadic nature of the occurrences.

sporadic events

Emphasizes the irregular and scattered nature of the occurrences.

limited incidents

Focuses on the restricted number of incidents.

infrequent appearances

Highlights the rare nature of something appearing.

isolated cases

Suggests that the occurrences are separate and not widespread.

scattered examples

Highlights the distribution and limited number of examples.

rare sightings

Focuses on the uncommon nature of seeing something.

minimal events

Emphasizes the small number of events happening.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few occurrences" to describe something that has happened more than once, but not very often. For example, "There have been "a few occurrences of" technical issues this week".

What are some alternatives to "a few occurrences"?

Some alternatives include "several instances", "occasional instances", or "sporadic events". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "few occurrences" or "a few occurrences"?

"A few occurrences" implies a small number, whereas "few occurrences" suggests a smaller number close to none, often with negative connotations. Using "a" makes the phrase less severe.

What's the difference between "a few occurrences" and "some occurrences"?

"A few occurrences" emphasizes the limited number, while "some occurrences" is more general and could imply a larger number. Use "a few" when you want to highlight the scarcity or infrequency.