few but not all

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few but not all" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a small number of items or people are included in a group, while others are excluded. Example: "Few but not all of the participants completed the survey, which may affect the results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

The levels in the blood and in the brain also showed cross-correlation at a lag time of −1, which is most likely caused by the fact that in a few, but not all, animals, changes in hippocampal free corticosterone levels could occasionally be detected one 10-min sample earlier than in the blood.

Endocrinology

The list below features a few, but not all, of my favorites.

The Washington Post

A few, but not all, have been in the show from the beginning.

The Guardian

Dowd said the authors did not interview her for the book but that Halperin called at some point to "check a few — but not all — of the details".

The New York Times

Here are some of the most common and most interesting phrases from our data, along with a few — but not all — variations.

The Washington Post

Although Mr. Rumsfeld declined to be more specific about the number of troops in the region or where they were operating, senior Pentagon officials said there were at least a dozen, but significantly fewer than 100, Army Special Operations forces working in a few, but not all, areas held by the Northern Alliance.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

We get a few, but not a lot.

Independent

Not a few, but not a lot.

Forbes

A few buildings, but not all, were evacuated, and everyone is safe. .

TechCrunch

This means your kids can play on the iPad for a few hours — but not all of them.

TechCrunch

Any sort of hall pass will do you good if you are skipping a few classes, but not all.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "few but not all", ensure that the context clearly establishes the total group being referenced. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the reader understands the partial inclusion.

Common error

Avoid using "few but not all" when the context suggests that almost none of the group are included. In such cases, phrases like "very few" or "hardly any" might be more appropriate to accurately reflect the scarcity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few but not all" functions as a quantifier combined with a limiter. It specifies that a small portion of a group is included or possesses a certain attribute while explicitly excluding the remainder. According to Ludwig, this expression is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "few but not all" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that a small portion of a larger group is included or affected, while the rest are excluded. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in various contexts. It is commonly found in scientific and news-related content. While the phrase is versatile, it's important to use it accurately, ensuring the context aligns with the intended meaning of limited inclusion. Related phrases like "some but not all" or "a handful but not every" can offer subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some but not all

Replaces "few" with "some", indicating a general portion rather than a small quantity.

a handful but not every

Substitutes "few" with "a handful" and emphasizes that not every item is included.

certain but not all

Uses "certain" to specify that a portion of the whole possess a defined characteristic.

a minority but not the entirety

Replaces "few" with "a minority" to emphasize the smaller proportion and uses 'the entirety' for a more formal tone.

several but not all inclusive

Uses "several" to indicate more than a few, and adds "inclusive" for clarity.

limited but not complete

Focuses on the extent of inclusion being limited rather than the quantity.

a select number but not the totality

Emphasizes that only a specific, smaller number is considered, not the entire group.

a small subset but not the whole

Highlights that only a small portion of a set is being referred to, not the entire set.

some exceptions exist

Implies that while a general rule applies, there are deviations or exceptions.

not every single one

Replaces 'few' with a negation indicating that not each member of a group fits a specific condition.

FAQs

How can I use "few but not all" in a sentence?

Use "few but not all" to indicate that a limited number of items or individuals within a larger group share a particular characteristic or are included in a specific action. For example, "Few but not all of the participants completed the survey".

What phrases are similar to "few but not all"?

Alternatives include "some but not all", "a handful but not every", or "certain but not all", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "few but not all"?

Yes, the phrase "few but not all" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express partial inclusion or limitation within a group. It's considered standard English.

What is the difference between "few but not all" and "not all"?

"Few but not all" indicates that a small number is included, whereas "not all" simply means that the entire group is not included, without specifying the quantity that is.