a few of us

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a few of us' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used whenever one wishes to refer to a small number of people in a group. For example, "A few of us decided to go camping this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Only a few of us looked up.

The New York Times

"Just a few of us".

The New York Times

There's a few of us after it.

Independent

A few of us started crying.

The New York Times - Arts

A few of us write it.

The New York Times - Books

"There are a few of us".

The Guardian - Film

"A few of us were having breakfast".

The New York Times - Sports

A few of us weren't there.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"They took a few of us, tied them up and they shoot a few of us".

The New York Times

I bet you've heard from a few of us.

Princeton University

So it started with a few of us".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a few of us" when you want to indicate a small, indefinite number of people from a larger group are involved in an action or situation.

Common error

Avoid using "a few of us" when a more precise number is known. If you know it's exactly three people, saying "three of us" is more accurate and informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few of us" functions as a determiner phrase acting as a quantifier, specifying a small, indefinite number of people from a larger group. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

17%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a few of us" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to indicate that a small number of individuals within a group are involved in something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate across various contexts, from academic writing to everyday conversation. While it's crucial to use it when the number is genuinely small and indefinite, avoiding it when a precise number is known will enhance clarity. Considering alternatives like "some of us" or "several of us" can also refine your expression depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some of us

More general term that suggests that it concerns an unspecified number of people.

just a few of us

Emphasizes the limited number of people involved with stress.

only a few of us

Highlights the exclusive nature of the group involved.

several of us

Emphasizes that the number of involved people is larger than when using "a few".

a couple of us

Indicates the number of people involved is specifically two.

a handful of us

Implies that the number of people involved is easily countable, like what can be held in one hand.

a small number of us

More formal way of indicating a reduced quantity of people.

a minority of us

Highlights that the group represents less than half of the whole.

a select few of us

Suggests the people included are picked for a specific trait.

not all of us

Indicates that the entirety of the group is not engaged in something, therefore it focuses on the exclusion.

FAQs

How can I use "a few of us" in a sentence?

You can use "a few of us" to indicate that a small number of people within a larger group are doing something. For example, "A few of us are going to the park this weekend".

What's a more formal alternative to "a few of us"?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "a small number of us" or "several of us" to maintain a professional tone.

What is the difference between "a few of us" and "some of us"?

"A few of us" suggests a smaller and more limited number compared to "some of us", which can imply a larger, less defined group.

When is it incorrect to use "a few of us"?

It would be incorrect to use "a few of us" if you're referring to a very large proportion of the group or if you know the exact number. In those cases, use alternatives like "many of us" or specify the number (e.g., "three of us").