a few professional

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few professional" is not correct as it is incomplete.
It can be used when referring to a small number of professionals, but it needs to be followed by a noun, such as "a few professional opinions" or "a few professional colleagues." Example: "I consulted a few professional experts before making my decision."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Facing my own mortality has changed me, both personally and professionally, so let me share a few professional "aha" moments.

Forbes

Siqueira manages a few professional fighters.

The New York Times - Sports

His professional triumphs at DuPont were accompanied by a few professional embarrassments.

Fluorine Chemistry at the Millennium Fascinated by Fluorine

The competitors include amateur road and track enthusiasts, bike messengers and a few professional racers.

The New York Times

But hardly anyone caught the allusion, except a few professional historians and very senior citizens.

The Guardian - Books

And at one fund-raiser, they auctioned themselves off as dates; winning bidders included a few professional football players.

The New York Times

In "Center Jenny," whose running time is fifty-three minuTrecartinartin's repertory troupe is augmented by a few professional actresses.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Only a few professionals among them enjoy the power to bargain collectively.

The New York Times - Magazine

A few professionals performed, such as John Lamont, a blond songster who formerly led the New Christy Minstrels.

The New Yorker

At the time there were just a few professionals in Germany, but the amateur business was thriving.

Independent

I spoke to a few professionals, two doctors in particular, working in the public health care system now.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always follow the phrase "a few professional" with a noun that specifies what you are referring to. For example, "a few professional opinions" or "a few professional colleagues".

Common error

Avoid using "a few professional" without specifying what you are referring to. This omission leads to grammatically incorrect sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few professional" functions as a determiner followed by an adjective. It modifies a noun, indicating a small quantity of something related to a profession. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is incomplete without a noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few professional" is frequently used but grammatically incomplete without a following noun. As Ludwig AI points out, it needs a noun to specify what kind of professionals are being discussed (e.g., "a few professional opinions"). Although the phrase appears across various domains, including news, science, and business, remember to complete the phrase by adding a relevant noun to ensure grammatical correctness. For alternatives, consider using "several professionals" or "a handful of professionals" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several professionals

Emphasizes a small but indefinite number of professionals, changing the determiner while retaining the core meaning.

a couple of professionals

Indicates precisely two professionals, providing a more specific quantity than the original phrase.

a handful of professionals

Implies a small, manageable number of professionals, adding a sense of ease or convenience.

some professional individuals

Replaces "few" with "some" and "professionals" with "professional individuals", slightly altering the tone and emphasis.

a limited number of professionals

Formally expresses the idea of a restricted quantity of professionals, suitable for formal contexts.

a small group of professionals

Highlights the collective aspect of the professionals, presenting them as a unit.

certain professional people

Indicates that the professionals are specific or identifiable, adding a sense of distinction.

a select few professionals

Suggests that the professionals are chosen or distinguished in some way, emphasizing their special status.

a minority of professionals

Positions the professionals as being fewer than the majority, emphasizing their relative scarcity.

not many professionals

Expresses the idea that the number of professionals is relatively small, using a more colloquial tone.

FAQs

How to properly use "a few professional" in a sentence?

Always follow "a few professional" with a noun to specify what kind of professionals you are talking about. For example: "I consulted a few professional experts before making my decision".

What are some alternatives to "a few professional"?

You can use alternatives like "several professionals", "a couple of professionals", or "a handful of professionals".

Is it correct to say just "a few professional" without a noun?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. You need to specify what kind of professionals you are referring to by adding a noun after "a few professional".

What is the difference between "a few professional" and "several professionals"?

"A few professional" requires a noun to follow it, while "several professionals" is a complete phrase that means a small number of professionals.