a poor quantity of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a poor quantity of" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when describing an insufficient or inadequate amount of something. Example: "The project suffered due to a poor quantity of resources allocated for its completion."

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Having a poor quantity of qi in the body, would result in illness, and eventually death.

Wikipedia

The fact that GMM classifiers were trained with a poor quantity of class 2 frames with respect to the other classes explains the higher percentage of errors obtained for this class.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The results showed C. papaya pulp contain trace amount of Fe, and Zn (2.56 and 0.06 respectively) and very poor quantity of Cu.

Chemistry Central Journal

However, the success rate of implant is relatively low for the patients with poor quantity and quality of alveolar bone and with some diseases like osteoporosis.

BioMed Research International

Both factors restrict diverse genetic techniques like polymerase chain reactions due to poor quantity, purity and length of the RNA and DNA.

Plosone

For overall SNP genotyping assay, the reported error rate for 983 cases was 0.33% which involved DNA extracts of poor quantity and quality.

BioMed Research International

Burnout results in a poor quality and quantity of nursing care and has negative effects on the most areas of personal, interpersonal and organizational performance [ 5].

BMC Nursing

Overall, these findings strongly suggested that there is no common mutational signature in the MCRA group of patients subject to the limitations of screening large genes, such as APC in DNA of relatively poor quantity and quality.

British Journal of Cancer

This does not mean buy a lot of cheap items; you are always better placed to own a few good quality items rather than a quantity of poor ones.

WikiHow

Although culturing of the organism is considered the gold standard diagnostic method, it has poor sensitivity, requires a large quantity of specimen, and requires laboratory infrastructure including electricity (for centrifugation).

Clinical Infectious Diseases

Analysis of gene expression, while a powerful tool, often reveals a poor correlation with the quantity of corresponding functional protein.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a poor quantity of", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking and why it matters. For example, instead of just stating "a poor quantity of resources", specify "a poor quantity of funding, which hindered the project's progress".

Common error

Avoid using "a poor quantity of" when you actually mean low quality. "Poor" in this context refers to insufficient amount, not inferior quality. If you mean low quality, use "poor quality" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a poor quantity of" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun, indicating that the amount or number of something is insufficient or inadequate. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the phrase may sound somewhat awkward.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

Wiki

50%

News & Media

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a poor quantity of" is used to denote an inadequate amount of something. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI suggests that it might sound somewhat awkward. It's more common in scientific and wiki contexts and less frequent in news or formal business settings. Alternatives like "an insufficient quantity of" or "a limited amount of" might be preferred for clarity and conciseness. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly identifies the lacking element and its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a scarce amount of

Replaces "poor" with "scarce," emphasizing the limited availability.

an insufficient quantity of

Replaces "poor" with "insufficient", providing a more formal tone.

a limited amount of

Uses "limited" instead of "poor," suggesting restriction.

a meager quantity of

Employs "meager" to highlight the smallness and inadequacy of the amount.

a paltry amount of

Substitutes "poor" with "paltry," emphasizing worthlessness or insignificance.

a deficient amount of

Uses "deficient" to indicate a lack or shortage.

an inadequate supply of

Focuses on the "supply" aspect, indicating it is not enough to meet the need.

a small quantity of

Directly states the quantity is "small", a simple and clear alternative.

a reduced quantity of

Indicates that the quantity has been lessened or diminished.

a minimal amount of

Suggests the quantity is at the lowest possible level.

FAQs

How can I use "a poor quantity of" in a sentence?

Use "a poor quantity of" to describe a situation where there is an insufficient amount of something. For example, "The experiment failed due to a poor quantity of reagents available."

What's the difference between "a poor quantity of" and "a poor quality of"?

"A poor quantity of" refers to an insufficient amount, while "a poor quality of" refers to something being of low standard or inferior. For example, you might have "a poor quantity of" water, or "a poor quality of" water.

What can I say instead of "a poor quantity of"?

You can use alternatives such as "an insufficient quantity of", "a scarce amount of", or "a limited supply of" depending on the specific context.

Is it more common to say "low quantity" instead of "a poor quantity of"?

"Low quantity" is a more direct and commonly used alternative to "a poor quantity of". Both phrases convey the same meaning, but "low quantity" is often preferred for its simplicity and clarity.