few body

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few body" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a misinterpretation or typo, as "few" typically modifies countable nouns, and "body" is singular. Example: "There are few bodies of water in this region."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Quite a few body parts.

The Guardian

"The city has taken quite a few body blows over the years.

The New York Times

The Cabriolet resembles the A4 sedan, though it shares few body panels.

The New York Times

A second day of rescue operations using sonar-equipped boats and divers turned up only a few body parts.

The New York Times

By the time they got there, a day later, there was blood, a few body parts, and the smell of scorched human flesh.

The New Yorker

By all means let Bradley Cooper, Zac Galifianakis and Ed Helms live happily ever after, but at least let them lose a few body parts before the closing credits.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

A few bodies edged through.

The New York Times

As dusk fell, few bodies had been found.

The Guardian

Later, Mr. Giuliani emphasized that few bodies remained to be recovered.

The New York Times

There have been few bodies on which to conduct autopsies.

The Economist

"That left a few bodies by the wayside".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To refer to deceased individuals, use "few bodies" when indicating a small number of corpses.

Common error

Avoid using "few" directly before a singular noun like "body". Instead, use "a few" before plural nouns (e.g., "a few bodies") or rephrase to use correct grammatical structures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few body" functions as a quantifier followed by a noun. However, it is grammatically incorrect because "few" requires a plural noun. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct usage would involve a plural noun such as "bodies."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "few body" is generally grammatically incorrect as it mismatches the quantifier "few" with a singular noun. As noted by Ludwig AI, "few" requires a plural noun. While it appears in various contexts, including news, science, and wiki sources, proper usage requires using "a few bodies" or rephrasing the sentence. Correct alternatives include "small number of bodies", "limited number of corpses", or more context-specific terms. Always ensure the noun following "few" is plural to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small number of bodies

Replaces "few" with "small number" and retains "bodies" to refer to multiple entities, especially in contexts involving physical objects or corpses.

limited number of corpses

Substitutes "few" with "limited number" and "body" with "corpses" for specific contexts related to death.

sparse physical forms

Uses "sparse" instead of "few" and replaces "body" with "physical forms" to describe a lack of substantial figures or entities.

scant number of figures

Employs "scant" and replaces "body" with "figures" to refer to a minimal amount of represented people or shapes.

minimal physical presence

Replaces "few" with "minimal" and changes "body" to "physical presence" to indicate a reduced existence or appearance.

isolated body parts

Focuses on individual pieces or components rather than whole entities, suitable for discussions about anatomy or remains.

limited bodily remains

Employs "limited" and "bodily remains" to specifically indicate a small quantity of deceased individuals.

restricted bodily forms

Suggests a controlled or reduced number of physical shapes or entities.

rare physical entities

Replaces "few" with "rare" and "body" with "physical entities" to describe uncommon or unusual physical forms.

scattered body fragments

Uses "scattered" and "body fragments" to portray distributed pieces or remnants of a body, often in forensic or disaster contexts.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "few" when referring to physical forms?

Use "a few bodies" or "few individuals" instead of "few body" to ensure grammatical correctness. For example, "We recovered "a few bodies" from the wreckage."

When is it appropriate to use the term "bodies" in writing?

The term "bodies" is appropriate when referring to multiple physical forms, especially corpses or a collection of individuals. Always ensure it aligns with the context, such as in forensic reports or disaster scenarios. Use "a number of bodies" when describing quantity.

What are some alternatives to "few body" in scientific or technical writing?

In scientific contexts, consider using terms like "small sample size", "limited instances", or "rare occurrences" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey. For example: "There were "limited instances" of the phenomenon."

How does the meaning change when using "few" versus "a few"?

"Few" generally implies a small number that is insufficient or close to none, whereas "a few" suggests a small number that is still present or adequate. For example: "Few survivors were found" (almost none) vs. "a few survivors were found" (some were found).