few children

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few children" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a small number of children in a given context, often implying that the number is less than expected or desired. Example: "At the event, there were only a few children participating in the activities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Few children.

The New York Times

Bulgarians have few children.

The Economist

Few children go to school.

The Economist

Mainly couples, few children.

The New York Times - Travel

A few children.

The New York Times

Very few children.

The New York Times

"They let so few children through".

Independent

THE CROWD Sedate; few children.

The New York Times

Few children are in evidence.

The New York Times

But slowly a few children filtered in.

The New York Times

Couples and small groups; few children.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "few children", consider the context. It often implies a negative comparison or unexpected scarcity. Be mindful of the emotional impact.

Common error

Avoid using "few children" when you mean "no children". "Few" implies there are some, but not many. Use "no children" for complete absence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few children" functions as a noun phrase, where "few" acts as a determiner quantifying the noun "children". It specifies a small, limited quantity. Ludwig highlights the usage in varied contexts such as restaurants and demographic descriptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "few children" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote a small number of children. As Ludwig AI indicates, it appears commonly across news media and scientific contexts. While generally neutral, the phrase can carry implications of scarcity or a lower-than-expected quantity. To avoid misinterpretations, be mindful of the subtle difference between "a few children" (a small positive number) and ""few children"" (less than expected). When in doubt, using alternatives such as "a small number of children" will increase clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only a few children

Adds emphasis to the limited number.

a small number of children

Replaces "few" with a more explicit quantifier, emphasizing the small quantity.

relatively few children

Indicates a small number compared to what might be expected.

limited number of children

Highlights the restricted quantity of children.

not many children

Expresses the small quantity in a negative construction.

scarcity of children

Focuses on the lack or rarity of children in a given context.

paucity of children

A more formal way to express the scarcity of children.

a handful of children

Implies a very small, easily counted number of children.

sparse child population

Focuses on the overall density of children in a population.

a trickle of children

Suggests a slow and infrequent appearance of children.

FAQs

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

You can use "few children" to indicate a small number of children in a particular context, such as "Few children attend that school" or "There were "few children" at the park today".

What's a more formal alternative to "few children"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "a small number of children" or "a limited number of children" instead of ""few children"".

Is it always negative to say "few children"?

While ""few children"" often carries a slightly negative connotation implying less than expected, it can also be neutral depending on the context. For example, "Few children develop that rare condition" isn't necessarily negative.

Which is the difference between "a few children" and "few children"?

"A few children" suggests a small but positive number, implying that there are some children present. On the other hand, ""few children"" suggests a small number that is less than expected or desired.