a handful of situations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a handful of situations" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a small, limited number of situations or items. For example, "After considering a handful of situations, we decided to proceed with option A."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The bottom line is that these medications are helpful in only a handful of situations.

Harvard University

The SEC's Solicitation Guidance has boldly downsized the application of the Five-Factor Test, which now only remains relevant in only a handful of situations.

Columbia University

There are only a handful of situations in which actively writing a negative recommendation would be justified, and those scenarios need to fulfill basic criteria.

The New York Times - Magazine

To test it out, I put TwitterFone through a handful of situations it might be used in regularly and compared what I said to what TwitterFone transcribed.

TechCrunch

As a practical matter, the government can use it in only a handful of situations.

Huffington Post

In the same way, I have looked back on a handful of situations and realized I was really, really wrong.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Only a handful of situation comedies have enjoyed longer prime-time runs, while such shows as "MASH," "Cheers" and "The Jeffersons" also ran 11 seasons.

Los Angeles Times

My job has taken me to many countries and as you'd expect, I have found myself in a handful of dangerous situations where I looked death in the eye.

The Guardian

His narratives revolve around a handful of staple situations: Muslims doing alien things; bored, well-heeled tourists whose Western mores (particularly marriage) dissolve in the weltering heat of Latin America and North Africa; European rentiers living in a condition of dependence on, and mysterious subservience to, their native servants.

The New York Times - Books

These days, finding a few positive-looking forecasts isn't easy, but we put our computers to work and came up with a handful of interesting situations.

Forbes

There are, however, a handful of irksome situations that book lovers have to face.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a handful of situations" to emphasize that the number of instances is small and manageable. This can add clarity and precision to your writing.

Common error

While useful, avoid relying on "a handful of situations" excessively. Vary your language with alternatives like "a few cases" or "limited instances" to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a handful of situations" primarily functions as a quantifying phrase. It specifies a small, limited quantity of occurrences or circumstances. As seen in Ludwig, it's used to indicate that something applies only in a restricted set of circumstances.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a handful of situations" is a grammatically correct phrase used to denote a small, limited number of circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, as well as in academic writing. To avoid overuse, consider alternatives such as "a few circumstances" or "limited instances". Remember that the phrase requires a plural noun and implies a smaller quantity than phrases like "some situations".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few circumstances

Changes the quantifier and uses a synonym for 'situations'.

a limited number of cases

Replaces "handful" with "limited number" and "situations" with "cases".

a small selection of scenarios

Substitutes "handful" with "small selection" and "situations" with "scenarios".

isolated incidents

Focuses on the rarity and separateness of the occurrences.

specific instances

Highlights the particular and defined nature of the situations.

rare occasions

Emphasizes the infrequency of the events.

select circumstances

Implies a careful or deliberate choice of situations.

exceptional cases

Suggests the situations are unusual or not typical.

particular events

Focuses on specific happenings or occurrences.

certain conditions

Replaces "situations" with "conditions", implying a specific set of circumstances.

FAQs

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

You can use "a handful of situations" to describe a small number of instances or circumstances. For example, "There are "a handful of situations" where this rule doesn't apply."

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

Alternatives include "a few circumstances", "a limited number of cases", or "isolated incidents". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a handful of situation"?

No, it should be "a handful of situations" (plural). The phrase requires a plural noun because "handful" refers to more than one.

When is it appropriate to use "a handful of situations" instead of "some situations"?

"A handful of situations" implies a smaller, more limited number than "some situations". Use "a handful" when you want to emphasize the scarcity or limited scope of the situations.