a small children

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small children" is not correct in English.
The correct form should be "small children" or "a small child." You can use "small children" when referring to young kids in general without specifying a number. Example: "The park was filled with small children playing on the swings."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Without enough vitamin A, small children often go blind or die.

The New York Times

I went to a small children's agency on Thursday nights after school.

Vice

Formal interviews and informal conversations with TCM clinicians revealed that acupuncture for infants and a small children was not recommended.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

And a small child.

The New Yorker

I had a small child.

The New York Times

"Who's that?" asked a small child.

The Economist

Even a small child can smell overcompensation.

The New York Times

Alone with a small child.

The Guardian - Opinion

"He's like a small child.

The New York Times

"He's not a small child.

The New York Times

He pointed to a small child.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you intend to refer to a single child, use the phrase "a small child".

Common error

Avoid using "a" before plural nouns like "children". "A" indicates a singular noun. Instead, use "small children" or "young children" for multiple children or "a small child" for one child.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small children" is typically intended to function as a descriptor, modifying a noun. However, Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as grammatically incorrect due to the mismatch between the singular article "a" and the plural noun "children".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a small children" is grammatically incorrect, as identified by Ludwig. The article "a" is singular, while "children" is plural. The correct alternatives are "small children" when referring to multiple children or "a small child" for a single child. While Ludwig presents some examples of usage, their limited frequency and the grammatical error suggest avoiding this phrase in formal writing. Use of more appropriate phrases like "small children", "young children", or "a small child" will enhance clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small children

Corrects the grammatical error by removing the indefinite article 'a' before the plural noun.

a small child

Corrects the grammatical error by using the singular form 'child' with the indefinite article 'a'.

young children

Replaces 'small' with 'young' to describe children, correcting the grammatical error.

few small children

Adds 'few' to indicate a small quantity of children while using the correct plural form.

some small children

Uses 'some' to refer to a small group of children, correcting the grammatical issue.

a couple of young children

Replaces "small" with "young" and uses 'a couple of' to imply a small number

tiny children

Uses 'tiny' to emphasize the small size of the children.

little children

Replaces "small" with "little" to describe children, correcting the grammatical error

a small number of children

Rephrases to specify 'a small number' of children explicitly.

a handful of children

Uses 'a handful of' to suggest a small quantity of children.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a small children"?

The correct phrasing is either "small children" if you're referring to multiple children or "a small child" if you're referring to one child. The article "a" is only used with singular nouns.

Is "a small children" grammatically correct?

No, "a small children" is grammatically incorrect. The indefinite article "a" is used before singular nouns, while "children" is a plural noun. Use "small children" or "a small child" instead.

What are some alternatives to "a small children"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "young children", "little children", or "a small child".

How do I use "small children" in a sentence?

You can use "small children" to describe a group of young children, for example: "The park was filled with small children playing on the swings" or "It is important to protect small children from harm."