a scant few

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a scant few" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express something that is a very small amount or number. For example: "We had only a scant few hours to finish the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Democrats can point to a scant few.

The New York Times

Bradfield supplies a scant few orienting facts in the course of this challenging, original novel.

The New York Times - Books

Only a scant few remained in the Middle East, which proved expensive or unwelcoming.

The New Yorker

But only a scant few boxes in the pile will be from Mr. Sartori.

The New York Times

Some of the mansions remain, but only a scant few are single-family homes.

The New York Times

If this were a scant few years ago, I would have played Javier's part.

The New York Times

The next mayor takes over on July 1, a scant few weeks before the start of another school year.

The New York Times

In a scant few years, though, Clinton Street has undergone the equivalent of a whole body transformation.

The New York Times - Food

In the sound-bite feuds of television, he said, climate researchers were given a scant few seconds to explain complicated issues.

Stanford University

They burned for a scant few million years, generating energy by fusing hydrogen and helium into heavier elements such as carbon and oxygen in their cores.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The new 3D Mario is more of an unknown quantity, given the scant few seconds of footage teased in the trailer, but it looks like no Mario game we've seen before.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a scant few" to add a touch of formality or emphasis to the smallness of a quantity. It's more impactful than simply saying "few".

Common error

Avoid using "a scant few" when you simply mean "some" or "several". The phrase specifically denotes a very small and often insufficient quantity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a scant few" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying a noun with an emphasis on the small number or amount. As supported by Ludwig AI, it's a grammatically correct way to express a minimal quantity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a scant few" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that serves to highlight the surprisingly or disappointingly small quantity of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a correct and effective way to add emphasis to a limited number. While it's most commonly found in news and media contexts, it can also be used effectively in academic or scientific writing to convey a sense of scarcity. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize not just that there are few, but that the few are insufficient or notable for their smallness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very few

Direct synonym emphasizing the small number.

just a few

Simple and direct way to indicate a small quantity.

hardly any

Highlights the near absence of something.

barely any

Similar to "hardly any", emphasizing the minimal amount.

a tiny number

Emphasizes the insignificance of the quantity.

a handful

Implies a quantity small enough to be held in one hand.

next to none

Emphasizes the practical non-existence of something.

a small minority

Highlights the small proportion relative to a larger group.

a smattering

Indicates a sparse and scattered amount.

a trickle

Suggests a slow and minimal flow or presence.

FAQs

How can I use "a scant few" in a sentence?

You can use "a scant few" to describe a very small quantity of something. For example, "Only a scant few tickets remained for the concert."

What are some alternatives to "a scant few"?

Alternatives include "very few", "hardly any", or "just a few", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a scant few" or "very few"?

"A scant few" and "very few" are similar, but "a scant few" often implies a sense of inadequacy or deficiency in the small quantity.

What's the difference between "a scant few" and "few"?

"Few" simply indicates a small number, while "a scant few" emphasizes the smallness and often implies that the number is less than desired or expected.