a few of

USAGE SUMMARY

'a few of' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use 'a few of' when you are referring to a small number (less than half) of items within a group. For example: I have noticed a few of your friends around campus lately.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A few of her babies.

The New York Times - Travel

Here are a few of the best.

The New York Times

He promptly produced a few of each.

The New York Times

J.D. Drew got a few of them.

The New York Times

Here are a few of his sketches:.

The New Yorker

A few of them for empire.

The New Yorker

Those are a few of my favorites.

The New York Times

A few of them shaved their heads.

The New Yorker

A few of the songs, though, rock.

The New York Times

Here are a few of my favorites.

The New York Times

I've known a few of them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a few of" when you want to indicate a small, indefinite number of items or people from a larger group. For example, "A few of my friends are coming to the party."

Common error

Avoid using "a few of" with uncountable nouns. Instead of saying "a few of water", use "a little water" or "some water".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically a quantifier, indicating a small but non-negligible number or amount. As Ludwig indicates, it's a common and grammatically sound way to specify quantity. The examples from Ludwig confirm its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

12%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Forbes

2%

BBC

2%

Huffington Post

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a few of" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a small quantity or number. According to Ludwig, its use is considered correct in written English. As a determiner phrase, it functions as a quantifier, suitable for various contexts ranging from news and media to academic writing. While it's important to avoid using it with uncountable nouns (as there are better alternatives such as "some" or "a little"), "a few of" remains a common and acceptable way to express a small, indefinite quantity. Be mindful, though, that it communicates a smaller quantity than "some of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just a few

Adds emphasis to the small quantity.

a small number of

More formal and explicit about the quantity.

several

Replaces the phrase with a single word indicating more than two, but not many.

a limited number of

Emphasizes the restriction on the quantity.

a couple of

Indicates exactly two, or a small number approximating two.

a minority of

Highlights that the quantity is less than half of the total.

a handful of

Suggests a small, easily manageable quantity.

not many

An informal way to express a small quantity.

some

A more general term indicating an unspecified quantity.

a scattering of

Suggests the items are sparsely distributed.

FAQs

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

Use "a few of" to indicate a small quantity of something from a larger group. For example, "A few of the students passed the test".

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

You can use alternatives like "several", "a couple of", or "a small number of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "few of" instead of "a few of"?

While "a few of" indicates a small positive quantity, "few of" suggests a scarcity or near absence. The presence of the article "a" changes the meaning significantly.

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

"A few of" implies a smaller, more specific quantity than "some of", which can refer to a larger, less defined amount.