a few school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few school" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "a few schools"? If this is the case, you can use it when referring to a small number of educational institutions. Example: "In our town, there are a few schools that offer specialized programs for gifted students."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

These days, we get quite a few school parties.

The Guardian - Arts

He appeared in a few school productions, but was not the star.

The New York Times

But I've been doing a few school talks and meeting lots of new people too.

The Guardian - Sport

The tents provided by Save the Children, swelteringly hot inside, are still unfurnished but for a few school desks.

The New York Times

One video segment shows a few school scenes, indicating how entwined reading and writing are with religious instruction.

The New York Times - Arts

Even the Justice Department has taken notice, suing a few school districts that routinely used police to enforce disciplinary infractions.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Fowler heard squeals from a few school-age girls.

The New York Times - Sports

A few school-boys surround Vova Mashbits, the class telltale.

The New Yorker

My son is applying early decision for a few schools.

The New York Times

Please give me the names of a few schools.

The New York Times - Travel

I have seen this in quite a few schools.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the plural form "schools" when referring to more than one educational institution. Using the singular form with "a few" is grammatically incorrect.

Common error

Avoid using the singular noun "school" after "a few". Always use the plural form "schools" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few school" is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct form is "a few schools", where "a few" acts as a determiner specifying a small quantity of the plural noun "schools". The correct phrase functions as a noun phrase within a sentence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few school" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "a few schools". As Ludwig AI explains, "a few" should always be followed by a plural noun. While "a few school" appears in various contexts, particularly in news and scientific sources, it's crucial to use the grammatically correct plural form. Remember to use "a couple of schools", "several schools", or "some schools" as alternatives to ensure accuracy and clarity in your writing. Always prioritize grammatical correctness to maintain credibility and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a couple of schools

Replaces "few" with "couple", implying a slightly smaller quantity while correcting the grammar.

several schools

Uses "several" to indicate more than two schools, maintaining grammatical accuracy.

a number of schools

Employs "a number of" to express an unspecified quantity of schools.

some schools

Offers a more general alternative, indicating an indefinite quantity of schools.

a handful of schools

Suggests a small quantity of schools, emphasizing the limited number.

a small group of schools

Rephrases to emphasize the collective aspect of a limited number of schools.

a limited number of schools

Highlights the restriction in the quantity of schools being referenced.

a few educational institutions

Substitutes "school" with a broader term, "educational institutions", to maintain the intended meaning and correct the grammar.

a select few schools

Adds emphasis on the exclusivity or special nature of the schools in question.

certain schools

Indicates specific, though unnamed, schools, changing the focus from quantity to identification.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a few school"?

The correct way to phrase this is "a few schools". The word "school" should be plural when used with "a few" because "few" implies more than one.

Can I use "a few" with singular nouns?

No, "a few" is used with plural countable nouns. For example, you can say "a few books" or "a few ideas", but not "a few book" or "a few idea".

What alternatives can I use instead of "a few schools"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "several schools", "some schools", or "a couple of schools".

Is there a difference between "few" and "a few"?

Yes, "few" means "not many" and implies a negative sense, whereas "a few" means "some" and has a more positive connotation. For instance, "few schools" suggests there are hardly any schools, while "a few schools" indicates there are some schools.