a handful of samples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a handful of samples" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to a small number of items. For example, "We tested a handful of samples before concluding the experiment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

A handful of samples came in above the new target.

The New York Times - Health

Although the current analysis is consistent, the rocks come from only a few regions on the moon, and they demonstrate how even a handful of samples can drastically alter what scientists think they know.

The New Yorker

A handful of samples quickly came in, arriving from India, Japan, the UK and other locations.

BBC

A handful of samples out of 36 samples show spike in some ionic concentrations rendering them poor or unfit for drinking.

Applied Water Science

He says, "The projects that we take can vary from a handful of samples to sample sets of thousands 3,000 to 4,000".

Science Magazine

Like "Energy Flash," they're defined by crisply efficient, driving drums, anchoring just a handful of samples and synth bleeps in other words, raving material in its rawest form.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

There are a handful of sample sites you can test for yourself, like this one on Mobile News, Celebrity Gossip, and Manchester United.

TechCrunch

He returned two minutes later with a handful of sample-sized Floradix Iron+Herbs Liquid Extract Formula.

Huffington Post

There's really no reason to spend more than $150 a night on a room, unless you want to -- Tokyo certainly does have some impressive five-star hotels, much cheaper than you'd expect -- on a handful of sample dates in April, more than a few top picks popped up for less than $250.

Huffington Post

The first studies reported whole-genome [ 33] or whole-exome [ 39] sequencing of a handful of CLL samples, followed by targeted sequencing of coding mutations detected in these samples in larger validation cohorts.

Genome Medicine

Tempos tended to a clubfooted thump, and a handful of drum samples were caned to death.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a handful of samples" when you want to emphasize that the number of samples is small, but sufficient for the intended analysis or purpose. For example, "A handful of samples was sufficient to determine the presence of the contaminant."

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a handful of samples" is representative of a larger population without proper statistical validation. Always acknowledge the limitations of a small sample size.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a handful of samples" functions as a determiner phrase modifying the noun "samples", indicating a small and indefinite quantity. It's often used to describe the scale or scope of a study or analysis, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a handful of samples" is a grammatically correct and acceptable phrase for indicating a small quantity of items, particularly in scientific and news contexts. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it is used to convey a limited number of items in a study or analysis. While alternatives like "a small number of samples" exist, the original phrase remains a concise and widely understood way to communicate sample size. While versatile and appropriate, ensure the representativeness of even "a handful of samples" and provide proper statistical validation in your data.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small number of samples

Replaces "handful" with "small number", emphasizing the limited quantity.

a few samples

Uses the simpler phrase "a few" to indicate a small quantity.

a limited selection of samples

Focuses on the samples being a subset chosen from a larger group.

a reduced number of samples

Highlights that the number of samples is less than what might be expected or desired.

a restricted set of samples

Emphasizes the limited and possibly controlled nature of the sample group.

a fraction of the samples

Indicates that the samples represent only a portion of a larger set.

a scant quantity of samples

Emphasizes the meagerness or insufficiency of the sample size.

some samples

A more general term that indicates the existence of samples without specifying quantity.

a sparse collection of samples

Focuses on the scattered or thinly distributed nature of the samples.

a trickle of samples

Implies that the samples are arriving or being processed slowly and in small amounts.

FAQs

How can I use "a handful of samples" in a research paper?

In academic writing, "a handful of samples" can be used to indicate a small sample size, as in: "We analyzed "a handful of samples" to determine the presence of specific compounds".

What are some alternatives to "a handful of samples"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "a small number of samples", "a few samples", or "a limited selection of samples".

Is it appropriate to use "a handful of samples" in formal writing?

Yes, "a handful of samples" is acceptable in formal writing, especially when you need to emphasize the small quantity. However, be sure that use of a casual term doesn't detract from the overall tone. If you need to sound more precise, use "a small number of samples" instead.

How does the sample size affect the reliability of results when using "a handful of samples"?

When using "a handful of samples", it's crucial to acknowledge that the small sample size may limit the generalizability of the findings. Larger sample sizes typically provide more reliable results.