a few purposes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few purposes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to multiple reasons or objectives for an action or decision. Example: "The new policy was implemented for a few purposes, including improving efficiency and enhancing employee satisfaction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

So it serves a few purposes in one: average book light, above-average hands-free flashlight/worklight, and makeshift desk lamp.

TechCrunch

The elevated bar snack serves a few purposes.

Los Angeles Times

Frames have a few purposes, sure, but they generally all involve their namesake -- framing things.

Huffington Post

Learning to turn toward these unpleasant elements of our inner world serves a few purposes.

Huffington Post

I cannot agree with the authors' statement (in the Conclusions) that the noise level is low for all practical purposes – there must be quite a few purposes, very practical ones, for which even this amount of noise will not be tolerable.

Biology Direct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Dan DiDio, the publisher of DC Comics, told me the purpose of this new iteration of the comic had a few different purposes, most notably they wanted to bring Superman to a wider audience of people who didn't need to worry about being bogged down by years of continuity.

Huffington Post

Phones existed as self-contained microclimates designed for a few simple purposes.

TechCrunch

Extremely volatile, Polonium 210 is sold for only a few industrial purposes, fueling suspicions that whoever killed Litvinenko was a professional assassin.

Forbes

These were machines suited to a few specific purposes and if you wanted to do something new you bought a new machine.

TechCrunch

These small laptops are designed for a few simple purposes – multimedia, video, etc. – but the XPS 16 is the only one designed for (ssssshhhhh) gaming.

TechCrunch

Produced in a nuclear reactor and sold only for a few industrial purposes, polonium 210 is rare and volatile, fueling suspicion that whoever killed Litvinenko was a professional assassin.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a few purposes", ensure the context clearly indicates what those purposes are, either explicitly or implicitly. For example: "The tool serves "a few purposes": data analysis, report generation, and trend identification."

Common error

Avoid using "a few purposes" without providing any context or detail about what those purposes actually are. Saying "The project has "a few purposes"" without elaboration leaves the reader guessing and diminishes the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few purposes" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. As Ludwig AI also suggests, it denotes that something serves or has multiple, but not many, intentions or objectives. Example sentences in Ludwig illustrate its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few purposes" is a grammatically correct and versatile expression used to indicate that something serves multiple objectives. Ludwig AI shows that it appears across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While not extremely formal, it's a neutral and useful phrase. When using "a few purposes", ensure that the context provides clarity about what those specific purposes are to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "several reasons" or "multiple objectives" may offer more precision in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several reasons

Focuses on the rationale behind something, emphasizing the 'why' rather than the intended outcome.

multiple objectives

Highlights specific goals, emphasizing the desired results or targets.

various intentions

Emphasizes the motivations or plans behind an action, suggesting a range of aims.

diverse aims

Focuses on the variety of goals being pursued, highlighting their differences.

a number of goals

Implies a specific count of desired outcomes, suggesting a more structured approach.

several aims

Similar to "several reasons" but highlights the intent behind the actions.

various reasons

Similar to "several reasons" but suggesting more variety.

a couple of objectives

Limits the scope to two main goals, contrasting with the more general "a few".

some intentions

Highlights that there are underlying plans, though not stated in detail.

certain objectives

Highlights particular and well-defined goals.

FAQs

What does "a few purposes" mean?

The phrase "a few purposes" indicates that something is done or designed with more than one, but not many, intentions or objectives. It suggests multiple reasons exist for a particular action or design.

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

You can use "a few purposes" to describe the multiple functions of an object, the multiple aims of a project, or the multiple reasons for a decision. For example, "This app serves "a few purposes", including communication and file sharing."

What are some alternatives to "a few purposes"?

Some alternatives include "several reasons", "multiple objectives", or "various intentions". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "a few purposes" or list the purposes directly?

Listing the purposes directly is generally clearer and more informative. However, "a few purposes" can be useful when you want to avoid being overly specific or when the exact purposes are less important than the fact that multiple purposes exist.