a few share

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few share" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a misconstructed expression, possibly intended to convey a quantity of shares or a few items that are shared. Example: "A few shares of the company were sold at a profit."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

A few share their tips here.

Stanford University

Brummer's historical perspective is something only a few share.

The Guardian

Although most safety groups want the ratings adopted, a few share Senator Shelby's concerns that the process used to assess vehicles is so flawed that it should not be used.

The New York Times

Not many Americans like the tactics or fashion choices of Occupy Wall Street, but quite a few share the movement's opinion that the economy is tilted in favour of the wealthy.In this section The rise of state capitalism Salve Italia The politics of plutocracy Not quite too late Light and wrong ReprintsAnd so the rich are now a campaign issue.

The Economist

Of these a few share McTaggart's view that time cannot pass because time does not exist.

SEP

A few share the attitudes that led to gun sales spiking in the wake of many high-profile shootings.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Where can I try out a few shares?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Yes, I have a few shares in Eurotunnel.

The Guardian

He even owned a few shares in global Dutch giants such as Philips and Unilever.

The Economist

I've heard similar statements before, especially after a few shared bottles of wine.

The New York Times - Food

You could have lost that money in peace with a few shares of Lucent.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for grammatical correctness, use "a few share" only in contexts where you're confident the surrounding sentence structure clarifies the intended meaning, but be aware that it is technically incorrect. Consider replacing it with a more grammatically sound alternative, such as "a few people share."

Common error

Avoid using "a few share" when you need a singular verb form. Because "few" is plural, it needs a plural verb. To sidestep this, rephrase to use a plural subject: "a few individuals share" or "several people share."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few share" functions as a subject and verb, although it's grammatically questionable. According to Ludwig AI, it's an incorrect expression. Examples show usage in contexts where the subject is implied but not explicitly stated, which causes the grammatical problem.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "a few share" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The analysis reveals that it functions to express agreement or participation among a small group, most commonly in news and media. Given the grammatical issues, it's best to opt for clearer and more correct alternatives like "a few people share" or "some agree", particularly in formal contexts. This ensures both accuracy and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some people agree

Replaces "a few" with "some people", making it more explicit and straightforward.

a minority concur

Emphasizes agreement within a smaller group, using a more formal tone.

only a small number believe

Highlights the limited number of people holding a particular belief.

a select few endorse

Indicates that only a chosen few support something, suggesting exclusivity.

a small circle agrees

Emphasizes the closeness and limited size of the group in agreement.

a handful subscribe to

Substitutes "share" with "subscribe to", implying agreement with an idea or belief.

a limited number assent

Uses "assent" to mean agree, keeping the sense of a small group.

certain individuals concur

Replaces "a few" with "certain individuals", adding a level of specificity.

a scattering of individuals accept

Uses "scattering" to highlight the sparse distribution of individuals who accept something.

not many people think so

Expresses the idea that only a few people share a particular thought or opinion.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "a few" with the verb share?

Ensure subject-verb agreement by using a plural subject. For example, "a few people share" is grammatically correct, while "a few share" requires careful construction to avoid ambiguity.

What are some alternatives to "a few share"?

Consider using phrases like "some agree", "a minority concur", or "a handful subscribe to" to convey a similar meaning with better grammatical clarity.

Is "a few share" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "a few share" is not strictly grammatically correct. It may be understood in context, but rephrasing for clarity is recommended.

When might "a few share" be acceptable, even if not strictly correct?

In informal contexts or where the meaning is unambiguously clear from the surrounding sentence, "a few share" might be used. However, for formal writing, it is better to opt for a more grammatically sound alternative like "a few people share".