a handful of example

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a handful of example" is not correct.
Did you mean "a handful of examples"? You can use it when referring to a small number of specific instances or cases that illustrate a point. Example: "In this report, I will provide a handful of examples to support my argument."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

1960: In one of a handful of example cases given by the police, a 10-year-old boy asked Savile for his autograph outside a hotel.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

On the other hand, despite just a handful of examples of allosteric interactions playing a role in evolution the possibility that complex and distant structural interactions has a major evolutionary influence cannot be discarded at present.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology

These are a handful of examples.

The Guardian

They are a handful of examples of what is occurring regularly around the country.

The New York Times - Arts

They are also exceedingly rare, some surviving in only a handful of examples.

The New York Times

Here are just a handful of examples: 'Grandpa and Grandmaster Flash' proved quite the pairing.

Independent

These are but a handful of examples – dozens more could be cited.

The Guardian

These are just a handful of examples from many world-class projects.

The Guardian - Opinion

But, while there are a handful of examples of innovation, not enough in the industry are adopting these approaches.

The Guardian

Carrying a handful of examples, Mr. Perry visited his friend Jean-Louis Capitaine and explained his idea.

The New York Times - Arts

[ORIGIN early 21st century: from SHOWROOM, "a room used to display goods for sale".] Before 2013, there were just a handful of examples of this on our corpus.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the plural form "examples" when referring to more than one instance. The correct phrase is "a handful of examples".

Common error

Avoid using the singular form "example" with "a handful of". This construction requires a plural noun to be grammatically correct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a handful of example" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "a handful of examples", functioning as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun. As Ludwig AI suggests, you should use the plural form of the noun 'example'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The search query "a handful of example" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "a handful of examples". According to Ludwig AI, the corrected phrase functions as a determiner, indicating a small number of instances used for illustration. While generally neutral in register, consider more formal alternatives like "a limited number of instances" for academic or professional contexts. Primarily used in news, science, and business, remember to always use the plural form to ensure grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few examples

Replaces "handful" with "few", indicating a small quantity but with a more general tone.

a small number of examples

More formal and explicitly states the quantity as small.

a limited number of examples

Emphasizes the restriction on the quantity of examples.

several examples

Indicates more than a few, but still not a large quantity.

a select few examples

Highlights the chosen or representative nature of the examples.

a sampling of examples

Suggests the examples are representative of a larger set.

a collection of examples

Implies a more curated and intentional gathering of examples.

some notable examples

Draws attention to the significance or importance of the examples.

a representative set of examples

Focuses on how well the examples embody a broader trend or category.

a concise list of examples

Highlights the brevity and directness of the examples.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a handful of example"?

The correct phrase is "a handful of examples". The noun following "a handful of" should be plural.

What does "a handful of examples" mean?

It means a small number of instances or cases used to illustrate a point or argument.

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

You might say, "I will provide "a handful of examples" to support my claim."

What can I say instead of "a handful of examples"?

You can use alternatives like "a few examples", "several examples", or "a small number of examples".