a sparse number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sparse number of" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when referring to a small or limited quantity of something, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "In the survey, we found a sparse number of respondents who were aware of the new policy."

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Crystallin gene expression in lens is regulated at the level of transcription by a sparse number of specific DNA-binding transcription factors.

Journal of Molecular Biology

Oil prices have also been traditionally higher in the Northeast than in much of the rest of the country, because of a high demand and a sparse number of large refineries.

The New York Times

In contrast, unfamiliar objects entailed a sparse number of only unidirectional connections converging to parietal areas.

Plosone

The areas M and A are affected with PWD since 2008 and include mainly P. pinaster, with a sparse number of P. radiata, Quercus and Eucalyptus trees.

Plosone

While this data would suggest that DNA CpG methylation is involved with the regulation of expression of the CXC receptors and CXCL8, a search of the UCSC genome library (http://genome.ucsc.edu/) revealed a sparse number of CpG residues at the promoter regions of these three genes.

Plosone

We also labeled a sparse number of interneurons in the contralateral MoV.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

In the sparse model, each datum (signal) can be approximated by the linear combination of a small (sparse) number of elementary signals, called atoms, from a pre-specified basis or frame, called dictionary.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Taking advantage of this long-range LD, mapping of disease loci with GWAS becomes highly efficient, even with a relatively sparse number of tagSNPs8.

Nature

Though several other vocabularies and grammatical sketches followed, that century and the next saw a rather sparse number of works on African languages.

Britannica

39 This technique identified a relatively sparse number of motor units (∼14) in both SMNΔ7 and control soleus muscles.

Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology

Expression filters (i.e., the levels of expression of the proteins) were not used as they resulted in a very sparse number of small subnets.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a scientific audience, "a sparse number of" is acceptable if you want to emphasize the data is really scarce, but ensure the context justifies the specific word choice.

Common error

Avoid using "a sparse number of" in informal contexts. It can sound overly formal or even awkward. Opt for more natural alternatives like "not many" or "a few" to maintain a conversational tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sparse number of" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, indicating a limited quantity. It describes the noun that follows, specifying that the quantity is small and not abundant. Ludwig confirms its usage, noting it might sound awkward in certain contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sparse number of" is a grammatically acceptable phrase used to indicate a small or limited quantity. However, Ludwig AI suggests that it can sometimes sound awkward. Its usage is most common in scientific and formal writing, with more common alternatives like "a small number of" or "few" being preferred in general contexts. While the phrase is understandable, writers should be mindful of the tone and choose the most appropriate phrasing for their audience and purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small number of

Uses a more common synonym for 'sparse'.

a limited number of

Emphasizes the restricted quantity.

few

A concise and direct alternative.

a handful of

Suggests a very small, almost countable, quantity.

a scattering of

Implies a dispersed and small quantity.

a trickle of

Suggests a slow and limited flow or appearance.

a modicum of

Implies a very modest amount.

a smattering of

Indicates a superficial or incomplete presence.

not many

Simple and direct negation of a large quantity.

a negligible number of

Emphasizes the insignificance of the quantity.

FAQs

What does "a sparse number of" mean?

The phrase "a sparse number of" indicates a small or limited quantity of something, suggesting that it is not abundant or plentiful. It's similar to saying "few" or "a small amount".

When is it appropriate to use "a sparse number of"?

It's appropriate to use "a sparse number of" when you want to emphasize the scarcity or limited presence of something. However, consider that alternatives like "a small number of" or "few" are often more common and might provide greater clarity.

What are some alternatives to "a sparse number of"?

You can use alternatives like "a small number of", "a limited number of", "few", or "a handful of" depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is "a sparse number of" grammatically correct?

Yes, "a sparse number of" is grammatically correct, but it is not as commonly used as other similar phrases. While acceptable, ensure it aligns with the desired tone and style of your writing, as Ludwig suggests it can sound awkward.