few emails

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few emails" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of emails, often in a context where the exact quantity is not specified but is understood to be limited. Example: "I received a few emails from clients today, but I haven't had the chance to respond yet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He has sent me a few emails during this tour.

The Guardian - Sport

I've had a few emails saying I'm going to have a civic reception.

The Guardian - Sport

I've left messages on his various mobiles and sent a few emails.

The Guardian

We wrote a few emails and what she said helped me to make a choice about whether to apply there".

The Guardian

5.54pm BST 38 mins: Getting quite a few emails in which I'll try to get to at half time.

The Guardian - Sport

A few emails to friends cannot, in any light, be construed as the curatorship of a major international film festival".

The Guardian - Film

12.02pm BST Had a few emails like this one from Peter Roy I was always under the impression that drifting was not allowed in triathlons.

The Guardian - Sport

Perhaps you had to be there... 10.33am: I've had a few emails asking what journalists do when we get to games six hours early.

The Guardian - Sport

Ironically, this seems to have been one of the few emails from the Lib Dem press office that has actually got through to the hacks.

The Guardian

Three weeks and a few emails and phone calls later, and we were flying from Heathrow to Rio, then on to Fortaleza, in north-east Brazil.

The Guardian - Travel

"And then we got a few emails a week, then a few emails a day.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "few emails", ensure the context makes clear that you're referring to a small and limited quantity. This can help avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Be aware that "few" implies there were some emails, not zero. If you received no emails, use "no emails" instead of "few emails".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few emails" functions as a quantifier followed by a noun. It indicates a limited quantity of electronic messages. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "few emails" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a small number of electronic messages. As shown by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news and media, and its usage is generally neutral. Remember to use "few" when referring to some, but not many, emails, and consider more formal alternatives like "a limited number of emails" when appropriate. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms that the phrase is widely accepted and understood in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several emails

Replaces "few" with "several", indicating a slightly larger but still limited number.

a handful of emails

Uses a more descriptive term, "handful", to convey a small, manageable quantity.

a couple of emails

Specifies a quantity of two, implying a very small number.

some emails

Uses a less specific quantifier, "some", to indicate an unspecified small amount.

a limited number of emails

Emphasizes the restriction on the quantity of emails.

a small amount of email

Focuses on the volume of email rather than the count.

minimal emails

Highlights the infrequency of the email correspondence.

occasional emails

Implies that the emails are not frequent or regular.

a scattering of emails

Conveys that the emails are sparse and not concentrated.

infrequent emails

Underscores the emails' lack of regularity.

FAQs

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

You can use "few emails" to indicate a small number of emails received or sent. For example, "I received a "few emails" this morning regarding the project."

What's the difference between "few emails" and "several emails"?

"Few emails" implies a smaller quantity than "several emails". "Several" suggests a slightly larger, though still limited, number.

Is it correct to say "a few emails" or just "few emails"?

Both are correct. "A few emails" is more common and emphasizes that there were at least some emails, while "few emails" can sometimes imply a surprisingly small number.

What can I say instead of "few emails" to sound more formal?

In a more formal context, you might use "a limited number of emails" or "a small volume of emails".