a few strokes

USAGE SUMMARY

"a few strokes" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English and can be used in a variety of contexts.
For example, you could say "I added a few strokes of the brush to the canvas to finish off the painting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I can only manage a few strokes".

The Guardian - Film

After a few strokes, he gets the boat around.

The New Yorker

A drawing sketched in 1889 in a few strokes shows a haggard face with sunken cheeks.

The New York Times - Arts

They swam a few strokes, black water slopping over them in a stench many layers thick.

The New York Times

After just a few strokes, she was moved to a more prominent location.

The New York Times - Sports

Wisps of hair appeared after a few strokes, then eyeglasses, then the bridge of a nose.

The New York Times

'It feels natural,' he says after playing a few strokes on grass.

The Guardian - Sport

With a schoolboy's taste for entertainment, Fleming takes his revenge with a few strokes of ink.

The Guardian - Books

"I've let a few strokes get away every day," Love said.

The New York Times - Sports

The water was warm, but I hadn't swum in two years – a few strokes and I was done.

The New York Times

And new applications have made it possible to sketch out garden plans, office designs and notes with a few strokes.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a few strokes" to describe actions that are quick and require minimal effort, such as adding finishing touches to a painting or making minor adjustments to a plan.

Common error

Avoid using "a few strokes" when describing tasks that clearly require significant effort. This can create a misleading impression and undermine the seriousness of the work involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few strokes" functions as a quantifier phrase, specifying a small number of actions, movements, or efforts. Ludwig shows its broad use across various contexts, from describing physical actions like swimming to abstract concepts like decision-making.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

11%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few strokes" is a versatile and frequently used expression to describe actions or efforts that are minimal or small in number. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically sound and appears across a wide range of contexts, including News & Media and Wiki, indicating its broad applicability. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the scale of effort involved to avoid misinterpretations. Consider alternatives like "some touches" or "slight adjustments" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some touches

Implies adding small elements or modifications, similar to "a few strokes" in the context of improvement or finalization.

a handful of motions

Suggests a small number of movements, similar to "a few strokes" but more descriptive of physical actions.

minor adjustments

Focuses on small corrections or refinements, which can be used in any context where small corrections were performed.

several attempts

Implies multiple efforts or tries, differing from "a few strokes" in its emphasis on the iterative nature of the action.

a couple of passes

Suggests a limited number of movements over a surface, suitable in contexts like painting or polishing.

brief gestures

Highlights the brevity and expressiveness of the actions, making it suitable for describing communication or artistic expression.

a light touch

Emphasizes the delicateness and precision of the action, differentiating it from the more general "a few strokes".

minimal effort

Focuses on the small amount of work required, which can be used when the effort is more important than the action itself.

a dash of effort

Emphasizes the small amount of effort invested, which can be used when the effort is minimal but impactful.

slight adjustments

Focuses on small corrections or refinements, differing from "a few strokes" in its emphasis on precision.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few strokes" to describe adding minimal effort to complete something, as in "With "a few strokes" of the brush, the painting was finished."

What are some alternatives to "a few strokes"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "some touches", "slight adjustments", or "minimal effort".

Is it correct to say "just a few strokes" instead of "a few strokes"?

Yes, adding "just" before "a few strokes" emphasizes the minimal amount of effort or action involved. Both phrases are grammatically correct and commonly used.

What's the difference between "a few strokes" and "several strokes"?

"A few strokes" implies a smaller number of actions compared to "several strokes", which suggests a larger, though still limited, quantity.