a few short

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few short" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a small number of items or a brief duration of time, often in a context where something is about to happen soon. Example: "We will be starting the meeting in a few short minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I sold a few short stories.

Independent

Tobago has only a few short streams.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He spoke a few short phrases.

The New York Times

Rewind just a few short years.

The Guardian - Tech

Listen to a few short songs produced with E-Form.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Asparagus season is here for a few short weeks.

The Guardian

From alpha to omega in a few short years?

The Economist

In a few short years, Delevingne has certainly matured.

Independent

In a few short years, Nye had made many friends.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What you are all about in a few short words.

The Guardian

Or, for that matter, a few short weeks?

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a few short" to emphasize brevity and a limited quantity. It's suitable when you want to highlight that something is both not numerous and not lengthy.

Common error

While versatile, excessive use of "a few short" can sound informal. In professional or academic contexts, consider more precise alternatives like "several concise" or "a limited number of brief" to maintain a more formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few short" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a small quantity and brief duration. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

38%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a few short" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote a limited quantity and brief duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s perfectly acceptable in written English. While versatile, "a few short" can be substituted with more formal alternatives like "several concise" or "a limited number of brief" in professional or academic contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic sources, it effectively conveys the idea of something being both small in number and brief in time. Remember to use "a few short" when you wish to emphasize both limitations simultaneously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a handful of brief

Emphasizes brevity and small quantity more explicitly.

a couple of quick

Highlights speed and a small number.

several concise

Focuses on the succinctness of the items.

some brief

A more general way to indicate a small amount of time or number.

a small number of brief

Explicitly states the small quantity and brevity.

a limited number of quick

Similar to "a small number of brief", but with emphasis on the limit.

just a couple of brief

Adds an emphasis on how few there are

only a few brief

Implies that the number is surprisingly low

a mere few brief

Adds a sense of insignificance to the small number

a scant few brief

Suggests that not many things were 'brief'

FAQs

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

You can use "a few short" to describe periods of time (e.g., "In a few short weeks"), or to describe multiple objects that are brief or small in nature (e.g., "a few short stories").

What's a more formal alternative to "a few short"?

For formal writing, consider alternatives such as "several concise" or "a limited number of brief" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a short few" instead of "a few short"?

While understandable, "a few short" is the more conventional and grammatically accepted order. "A short few" may sound awkward or less natural to native English speakers.

What is the difference between "a few short moments" and "a few brief moments"?

The phrases are largely interchangeable, but "a few brief" might be preferred in some contexts to enhance formality while "a few short moments" emphasizes the limited duration of the moments.