a few works

USAGE SUMMARY

"a few works" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is composed of a small number of parts or elements. For example, "This painter's oeuvre consists of a few works from the Impressionist period."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

A few works have been done in the direction of I-convergence of sequences.

Mathematical Sciences

A few works are sombre but most are exuberant.

The Economist

A few works here may well satisfy that desire.

The New York Times - Arts

At each studio, I photographed a few works.

The Guardian

Tausig wrote a few works for piano, including a number of transcriptions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(It was one of a few works not included in the boxed set on the program).

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Only a few works concerning antioxidant protection after WBCT have been published.

European Journal of Applied Physiology

"We do have quite a few [works by Titian].

BBC

There are a few works which detect other symptoms as well [ 146].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Aside from feature design, a few works [1, 2, 35] focus primarily on the formation of feasible frameworks.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Despite their benefits, we find only a few works using hyper-heuristics in the SBSE field.

Applied Soft Computing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing creative output, use “a few works” to indicate a small but significant collection of pieces. For example, "The artist displayed "a few works" that highlighted their early style".

Common error

Avoid using “"a few works"” when referring to a large or extensive collection; instead, opt for phrases like “many works” or “a wide range of pieces”.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few works" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable phrase. It quantifies the noun "works", indicating a small but non-zero number of them, similar to the examples found in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few works" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a limited quantity of pieces or creations. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. It is versatile enough to be used in various contexts, from academic and scientific discussions to news reports and general conversation. While simple, it effectively communicates a specific sense of scale, and it's important to use it when the quantity is indeed small, avoiding its application to extensive collections. When aiming for more formal or descriptive language, alternatives like "several pieces" or "a limited number of items" can provide additional nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several pieces

Replaces 'works' with 'pieces' and 'a few' with 'several', suggesting slightly more than a few.

a couple of creations

Substitutes 'few' with 'couple' and 'works' with 'creations', implying a small number of creative outputs.

a small selection of pieces

Replaces 'a few works' with 'a small selection of pieces', highlighting a curated collection.

a handful of projects

Replaces 'a few' with 'a handful' and 'works' with 'projects', suggesting a small number of undertakings.

some productions

Replaces 'a few works' with 'some productions', indicating a set of produced items.

some compositions

Substitutes 'a few works' with 'some compositions', referring to artistic or musical creations.

various endeavors

Substitutes 'a few works' with 'various endeavors', referring to multiple attempts or efforts.

a limited number of items

Replaces 'a few' with 'a limited number of' and 'works' with 'items', emphasizing a restricted quantity.

a number of artifacts

Substitutes 'a few works' with 'a number of artifacts', often referring to historical or cultural objects.

limited output

Replaces 'a few works' with 'limited output', focusing on the quantity of production.

FAQs

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

You can use "a few works" to refer to a small number of pieces, such as "The gallery showcased "a few works" by the emerging artist."

What are some alternatives to "a few works"?

Alternatives include phrases like "several pieces", "a couple of creations", or "a handful of projects", depending on the context.

Is "a few works" formal or informal?

"A few works" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "a few works" and "some works"?

"A few works" implies a smaller number compared to "some works", which can suggest a larger, less defined quantity.