few attempts

USAGE SUMMARY

"few attempts" is correct and wearable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that only a small number of attempts have been made. For example, "After only a few attempts, the student had already learned the difficult material."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sadly, few attempts have yielded much profit.

The Economist

Here are a few attempts at engagement.

The Guardian - Tech

However there have been few attempts to formally verify them.

Science of Computer Programming

However, there have been few attempts to standardize this approach.

Experimental Hematology

Few attempts have been made to define these conflicts.

Journal of Environmental Management

A few attempts have been made to fix the system.

The Economist

Philadelphia made few attempts to double-team Umenyiora.

The New York Times - Sports

It takes him a few attempts to get on.

The New York Times - Arts

There were few attempts to drive the lane or penetrate.

The New York Times - Sports

After a few attempts she saw a patch of blood.

The Guardian

After a few attempts a policeman saw their plight.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "few attempts", consider clarifying the context by specifying why the attempts were limited or what resulted from them. For example: "Despite a few attempts, the experiment failed".

Common error

Avoid using "few attempts" when you actually mean "a few attempts". "Few" implies a small or insufficient number, whereas "a few" suggests some progress or effort was made. For example, instead of saying "Few attempts were successful", consider "A few attempts were successful" to indicate that some positive outcome occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few attempts" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the subject or object of a verb. It denotes a limited number of tries or efforts made to achieve a specific goal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

34%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "few attempts" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe a limited number of tries or efforts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more precise language might be preferable in highly formal settings. Its usage is prevalent in scientific, news, and academic domains. Be mindful to differentiate it from "a few attempts" to accurately reflect the intended meaning. When you need to emphasize the limited nature of efforts made towards a goal, "few attempts" effectively sets the tone. Consider using alternatives like "limited tries" or "scarce endeavors" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not many tries

A more direct and simple way of saying there were not a lot of tries.

limited tries

Emphasizes the restriction in the number of tries.

a handful of tries

Indicates a small, countable number of tries.

scarce endeavors

Highlights the rarity of the endeavors.

a small number of endeavors

Highlights that the number of endeavors were reduced.

minimal effort

Focuses on the reduced amount of effort exerted.

a couple of goes

It implies a small and indefinite number of tries.

rare shots

Refers to infrequent instances of trying.

occasional stabs

Suggests irregular and not very serious attempts.

isolated instances

Points out to particular moments in time when an action happens, but very infrequent.

FAQs

How do I use "few attempts" in a sentence?

Use "few attempts" to indicate that there were a small number of tries to do something, often implying that the attempts were insufficient. For example, "Despite a few attempts, he couldn't start the car".

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

"Few attempts" emphasizes the lack or insufficiency of tries, whereas "a few attempts" indicates a small but potentially meaningful number of tries.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "few attempts"?

You can use alternatives like "limited tries", "scarce endeavors", or "minimal effort depending on the context.

Is "few attempts" formal or informal?

"Few attempts" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might consider using a more precise alternative, such as "a limited number of attempts".