fairly few

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly few" is an example of correct and usable English.
You can use it when you want to express a moderate, but still limited amount of something. For example: "We found that only a fairly few people had a negative opinion of the new product."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Those people are fairly few and far between.

The New York Times

The numbers of churches actually taking action against the campaign are still fairly few.

The Guardian

"That is why 23 of them were injured and fairly few civilians" were harmed.

The New York Times

One reason for the scarcity is that there are fairly few women in management in Norwegian companies they occupy around 15% of senior positions.

The Economist

Germany's has become less so in recent years, and these days fairly few big mergers are blocked by politicians who think they know better.

The Economist

The border is vast and difficult to police, while the large employers that hire these illegal workers are fairly few and obvious.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

With these priorities and principles in mind, we offer the following comments and suggestions about the procedures needed to adjudicate fairly those few cases that are not resolved during the investigation.

The Washington Post

Let's start from something fairly obvious: few things are so widespread and pervasive like the Postal Service.

Forbes

A few, fairly recent casualties:.

The New Yorker

The films were dark blue, continuous and fairly uniform with few particulates.

Surface and Coatings Technology

But there are a few fairly stable patterns in the polling data.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider synonyms such as 'relatively small number' or 'moderately limited quantity' for enhanced precision.

Common error

Avoid using "fairly few" when the quantity is actually negligible or non-existent. "Fairly few" suggests there are some, even if not many, so ensure this aligns with the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly few" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying a noun in a limited or moderate amount. Ludwig examples show the phrase is most commonly followed by plural nouns, specifying the quantity of entities or items.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fairly few" is a versatile phrase used to express a moderate degree of scarcity. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically sound and appropriate for a range of contexts, particularly news, science, and encyclopedic content. It's essential to ensure that the context accurately reflects a situation where the quantity is limited but not negligible. While the phrase maintains a neutral register, leaning towards slightly formal, alternative phrases like "a limited number" or "relatively small number" may be suitable for enhanced precision in highly formal writing. Always use "fairly few" when communicating a limited but not extremely scarce quantity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not many

Offers a simpler, more direct way to express a small quantity.

a limited number

Indicates a specific restriction on the count or amount.

relatively small number

Emphasizes the proportion or ratio compared to a larger whole.

moderately limited quantity

Highlights the restriction in amount, using a more formal tone.

not abundant

Highlights the lack of plentifulness or profusion.

somewhat scarce

Focuses on the limited availability or rarity of something.

a restricted amount

Stresses the constrained or controlled nature of the quantity.

scarce

This denotes deficiency of quantity compared with the demand.

a handful

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

few and far between

Expresses both scarcity and infrequent occurrence.

FAQs

What does "fairly few" mean?

"Fairly few" indicates that there is a limited quantity or number of something, suggesting it's more than 'very few' but less than 'several'.

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

You can use "fairly few" to describe countable nouns. For example, "Fairly few students attended the lecture."

What are some alternatives to "fairly few"?

Alternatives include "a limited number", "not many", or "relatively small number", depending on the context.

Is "fairly few" formal or informal?

"Fairly few" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might prefer alternatives like "a restricted amount" or "moderately limited quantity".