few changes have been made

USAGE SUMMARY

'few changes have been made' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe changes that have occurred or to express dissatisfaction with changes that were made: "The Board of Directors had promised to make some significant changes, but so far, few changes have been made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Few changes have been made to the course at Westchester since last year, meaning the priority once again will be accuracy, not power.

The New York Times - Sports

So far, relatively few changes have been made in evacuation procedures for high-rise buildings in New York City or elsewhere since 9/11, said Sally Regenhard, founder of the Skyscraper Safety Campaign and the mother of a firefighter who was killed that day.

The New York Times

That was it for me last year, but a few changes have been made within the game which has given me the chance to play in the amount of tournaments I'm willing to play in and still compete with the top guys.

BBC

However, a few changes have been made.

Wikipedia

Since the freeway was completed, a few changes have been made to I-75 in Michigan.

Wikipedia

A few changes have been made in the technique since its introduction.

Annals of Surgical Oncology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Mr. Peretzman said relatively few changes had been made to the other tests.

The New York Times

In an interview, Mr. Blitzer said that S.& P. had been looking for a chance to drop the foreign companies for more than two years and thought this was a good time because there were several relatively new large companies available to be added and because fewer changes had been made recently to the index because fewer companies in the index have been acquired by other companies this year.

The New York Times

But few tangible changes have been made to the country's economy, which has stagnated for decades despite the dynamism of neighboring countries like China and Thailand.

The New York Times

The overall feel of the interior is familiar from past Golfs, but a few subtle changes have been made – the controls are angled slightly more towards the driver and the in-dash equipment has had a revamp with DAB radios, Bluetooth and USB connections.

Independent

Yes, a few tweaks or changes have been made since the last time they took the exam (no texting behind the wheel, please), but driving will always be driving and, for the Giants at least, the Dallas Cowboys will always be the Dallas Cowboys.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "few changes have been made", clearly indicate the area or system to which the changes refer for better clarity. For example, "Few changes have been made to the company policy since last year."

Common error

Avoid using "few changes have been made" without providing context, as it can lead to confusion about what specifically hasn't changed. Be specific to avoid misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few changes have been made" primarily functions as a statement indicating that a limited number of alterations or modifications have occurred. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "few changes have been made" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that limited modifications have occurred. As Ludwig AI points out, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and general informational writing. When using this phrase, it's essential to provide context to clarify what specifically hasn't changed. Alternative phrases like "minimal modifications have taken place" can offer a more formal tone if needed. Remember to avoid vagueness by specifying the area to which the changes, or lack thereof, pertain.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimal changes have occurred

This alternative uses "occurred" instead of "made", emphasizing the event of the changes rather than the action of making them.

limited modifications have taken place

This alternative replaces "changes" with "modifications" and "been made" with "taken place", providing a slightly more formal tone.

only a few alterations have been implemented

This version uses "alterations" and "implemented", suggesting a deliberate process of making changes.

not many changes have been enacted

This alternative emphasizes the legislative or procedural aspect of the changes using the word "enacted".

slight adjustments have been applied

This phrase uses "adjustments" to imply minor, fine-tuned changes.

there have been only minor revisions

This focuses on the act of revising, implying that the changes were part of a review or editing process.

the alterations are insignificant

This directly states the lack of importance or impact of the changes.

the modifications are minimal

Similar to the previous one, this highlights the small extent of the modifications.

scarcely any changes have been instituted

This uses "scarcely any" to strengthen the idea that very few changes have been introduced.

few adjustments are in effect

This phrase focuses on the current state of the changes, indicating that only a small number are actively being used or implemented.

FAQs

How can I use "few changes have been made" in a sentence?

You can use "few changes have been made" to indicate that a situation or system has remained largely the same. For example, "Few changes have been made to the curriculum this year."

What's the difference between "few changes have been made" and "no changes have been made"?

"Few changes have been made" implies that some minor alterations might exist, while "no changes have been made" suggests that everything remains exactly the same without any modifications whatsoever.

What can I say instead of "few changes have been made" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "minimal modifications have taken place" or "limited alterations have been implemented".

Is it grammatically correct to say "few changes was made" instead of "few changes have been made"?

No, "few changes was made" is grammatically incorrect. "Changes" is plural, so it requires the plural verb form "have". The correct phrase is "few changes have been made".