a handful of articles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a handful of articles" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a small number of articles, typically implying that the quantity is manageable or limited. Example: "After reviewing a handful of articles on the topic, I felt more prepared for the discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

The Times used Facebook Notes to publish a handful of articles, including two concerning the violent crackdown in Egypt.

The New York Times

Aside from a handful of articles in the local media and an honorary award from the Chilean government in 1992, there was no wider recognition.

The Guardian

However, several e-mails from the company to the White House flagged and sought to discredit a handful of articles that had questioned the company's financial viability as far back as July 2010.

The New York Times

In a handful of articles published in Israeli papers, however, he has repeatedly said that he is not gay and was forced into unspecified sexual encounters by Mr. McGreevey, who was then his employer.

The New York Times

Earlier this year, he was interviewing a man for a sales job when the applicant produced a handful of articles that he said had been written about him in various financial trade publications.

The New York Times

Add to that the emergence of players that were not around in 2008, like Politics Daily, an AOL enterprise that started in 2009, and the retooled NationalJournal.com, which until late last year had a small presence online and limited all but a handful of articles to subscribers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

IN SEPTEMBER 1995 eBay was founded, the Unabomber's manifesto was published, and a memo crossed the desk of the editor of The Economist asking him which of a handful of article ideas were worth pursuing.

The Economist

On the one hand, I've written a handful of the articles in it, none of which I ever have been or ever will be paid for, and all of which I wish could circulate freely.

The New Yorker

Before she was hired, as a manuscript reader, she had written a handful of magazine articles and held several jobs unrelated to journalism or the literary world.

The New Yorker

Domenic F. Gatto, the chief executive of the Atlantic Express Transportation Corporation, is upset about a handful of online articles by Jerry Capeci, who writes for the Web site GangLandNews.com.

The New York Times

Barring a few moments in court, the testimony on Tuesday largely involved witnesses reviewing an endless stack of documents — the minutes of board meetings, letters, e-mails and a handful of news articles.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a handful of articles", ensure the context clearly indicates the limited quantity is relevant to the discussion. This phrase works best when the small number is contrasted with an expected or desired larger amount.

Common error

Avoid using "a handful of articles" to describe a collection when the exact number is known and not particularly small. Saying "a handful" when there are actually twelve articles diminishes precision and may confuse readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a handful of articles" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun (articles) to indicate a small, indefinite quantity. It suggests that the number of articles is limited and easily manageable, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a handful of articles" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-registered phrase used to denote a small and easily managed number of articles, mainly in News & Media and Scientific contexts, as validated by Ludwig AI. While it effectively communicates a limited scope, being mindful of precision and overstatement prevents potential misinterpretation and ensures clearer communication. Alternatives include phrases like "a few articles" and "several articles" depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several articles

Replaces the figurative "handful" with a more direct quantifier.

a few articles

Similar to "several", but may suggest an even smaller number.

a mere handful of articles

Adds emphasis on how few articles there are.

only a few articles

Directly states the limited quantity and emphasizes it.

a limited number of articles

More formal, emphasizing the restriction in quantity.

a small collection of articles

Emphasizes the articles as a group, rather than focusing on the quantity.

a sparse number of articles

Emphasizes the limited availability or existence of the articles.

a scattering of articles

Suggests the articles are distributed or not easily found.

a select few articles

Highlights the articles as being specially chosen or of high quality.

a trifling number of articles

Downplays the significance of the number of articles.

FAQs

How can I use "a handful of articles" in a sentence?

You can use "a handful of articles" to indicate a small number of written pieces, as in "I read "a handful of articles" on the subject before forming my opinion."

What's a more formal alternative to "a handful of articles"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "a limited number of articles" or "several articles".

Is it appropriate to use "a handful of articles" in academic writing?

While "a handful of articles" is generally acceptable, using more precise language like "a few articles" or specifying the exact number might be preferred in formal academic contexts for clarity.

What does "a handful of articles" imply about the information available?

The phrase suggests that the amount of available literature is relatively scarce or limited, implying that in-depth knowledge may be challenging to obtain.