Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

a few science

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few science" is not correct in English.
It should be "a few sciences" if referring to multiple branches of science or "some science" if referring to science in general. Example: "I have a few sciences that I am particularly interested in, such as biology and chemistry."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

A few science classes are held in one tiny square room with no ventilation.

News & Media

The New York Times

Only a few science papers published in any year will actually lead to great advances or have wide-reaching implications.

News & Media

The Guardian

A few science books, such as Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time" and Leon Lederman's "The God Particle", have joined the two together; both authors have admitted that putting the deity in was good for sales.

News & Media

The Economist

When I was covering the space program in the 1980s, at some point during every space mission a NASA public affairs officer would corral a few science reporters and ask what to do when the space telescope was finally launched.

And so sadly, though there were certainly a few science related announceables, we didn't get to see a debate between the two potential science ministers, Kim Carr and Sophie Mirabella.

News & Media

The Guardian

Although the large majority of students in the program are engineering majors, there have been a few science majors and, for the first time this year, a humanities major.

Show more...

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Over at Stat News, Lipi Roy, an addiction medicine doctor, lays out a few science-backed ideas that could perhaps have prevented Petty's death.

They were comfortable with a judgment that allowed them to remain both superior and ignorant, and quite a few science-fiction writers accepted exile from the Republic of Letters to the ghetto of genre, perhaps because ghettos, like all gated communities, give the illusion of safety.

News & Media

The New Yorker

It just happens that this transformation is being led by, "a few science-and information technology-intensive non-manufacturing industries (software, telecommunications/ Internet service/Web search/data processing, computer systems design and related services...)".This brings us to the crux of the issue.

News & Media

The Economist

I'm looking forward to Emma Cline's "The Girls," Patrick Flanery's "I Am No One," and Yuri Herrera's "The Transmigration of Bodies" (all books with an element of suspense); to a few science-fiction books, including Ken Liu's "The Paper Menagerie" and Liu Cixin's "Death's End"; and — confession time — to the novels of Hilary Mantel, which I've never read.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Fortunately, there are a few science-backed tricks to get us there (even when we totally don't feel it).

News & Media

Huffington Post
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to multiple branches of science, use the plural form "sciences" or more specific terms like "scientific disciplines". If referring to science in general, use "some science".

Common error

Avoid using the singular noun "science" with the determiner "a few". This combination is grammatically incorrect; opt for "some science" or "a few sciences" depending on the intended meaning.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

67%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few science" functions as a determiner followed by a noun. However, it is grammatically incorrect because "science" in this context should either be pluralized to "sciences" or replaced with a non-count noun determiner like "some". Ludwig AI points out this grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a few science" appears in various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI highlights, the correct forms are "a few sciences", when referring to multiple distinct fields of scientific study, or "some science", when referring to science in a general sense. To maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity, especially in formal or professional writing, it's best to use the alternatives like "several scientific disciplines" or "various areas of science" depending on the intended meaning. The infrequency of grammatically sound examples underscores the importance of choosing more precise and correct phrasing.

FAQs

How to correctly use "a few" when talking about science?

Instead of "a few science", use "a few sciences" if you're referring to multiple branches of science, such as physics, chemistry, and biology. If you're talking about science in general, consider using "some science".

What's the difference between "a few science" and "a few sciences"?

"A few science" is grammatically incorrect. "A few sciences" is correct when referring to multiple distinct fields of scientific study. For example, "I enjoy a few sciences, including biology and chemistry".

Is "some science" a better alternative to "a few science"?

Yes, "some science" is a better alternative when you are referring to science in general rather than specific scientific fields. For example, "I need to study some science for my exam" is correct.

What can I say instead of "a few science" to sound more professional?

For a more professional tone, consider using phrases like "several scientific disciplines" or "various areas of science" instead of "a few science".

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

67%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: