few guidance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few guidance" is not correct in English.
The correct expression would be "little guidance." You can use it when referring to a small amount of help or advice provided in a particular situation. Example: "The project was challenging due to the little guidance we received from our supervisor."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Still, despite these resources, few guidance counselors embrace the tool wholeheartedly.

The New York Times

Finally, for this study, we developed a systematic method for conducting a grey literature review based on a few guidance tools.

BMC Cancer

Few guidance publications described how to assess the quality of CPGs which considered equity issues in their recommendations, the process for developing CPGs, or how to report equity considerations.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

For instance, elementary schools will have fewer guidance counselors, psychologists and social workers.

The New York Times

"She was one of the few black guidance counselors at my high school at the time, so she had close attachments to the black students," he says.

Science Magazine

There are few regulatory guidance documents on the topic, largely focused on later phase confirmatory studies.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Many published works discuss the use of data in decision making, but few provide guidance to surmount the three domains of constraints.

Global Health Action

A few FDA guidance documents issued were specific to drug substance, e.g., Bulk Active Compound Post-approval Change (BACPAC) 1, but have since been withdrawn.

AAPS PharmSciTech

While there are many HIV counselling resources, few offer focused guidance on sex workers, MSM and other marginalized groups.

Unicef

Mr. Belluscio said the reductions in state aid, coupled with the cuts by town councils, would be felt in classrooms this fall, with fewer teachers and guidance counselors, and fewer enrichment and extracurricular options for students.

The New York Times

But without expert guidance, few people know where to begin.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "little guidance" instead of "few guidance" for grammatical correctness, as "guidance" is an uncountable noun.

Common error

Avoid using "few" with uncountable nouns like "guidance". "Few" is for countable nouns; use "little" instead to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few guidance" functions as a noun phrase, but it is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig, the correct form is little guidance, because "guidance" is an uncountable noun and should be paired with "little", not "few".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "few guidance" is grammatically incorrect, as confirmed by Ludwig. The correct phrase is "little guidance" because "guidance" is an uncountable noun. While the phrase might appear in various contexts such as science, news, and business, it's essential to use the grammatically correct alternative to maintain clarity and professionalism. Related phrases like "limited guidance" or "scarce guidance" can also be used to convey a similar meaning. Remember to avoid using "few" with uncountable nouns to prevent grammatical errors in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

little guidance

Replaces "few" with "little", which is grammatically correct when referring to uncountable nouns like guidance.

limited guidance

Emphasizes the restricted nature of the guidance provided.

scarce guidance

Highlights the rarity or unavailability of guidance.

minimal guidance

Indicates that only the essential amount of guidance is given.

inadequate guidance

Focuses on the insufficient quality or amount of guidance.

insufficient guidance

Similar to inadequate, stressing the lack of necessary guidance.

rare guidance

Highlights how infrequently guidance is available.

a lack of guidance

Uses a noun phrase to express the absence of guidance.

limited direction

Replaces "guidance" with "direction", offering a similar meaning.

scant advice

Replaces both "few" and "guidance" with synonyms to convey the same idea.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "few guidance"?

No, the grammatically correct phrase is "little guidance". "Few" is used with countable nouns, while "little" is used with uncountable nouns like "guidance".

What's the difference between "few guidance" and ""little guidance""?

"Few guidance" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "little guidance", as "guidance" is an uncountable noun.

What are some alternatives to saying ""little guidance""?

You can use alternatives such as "limited guidance", "scarce guidance", or "minimal guidance", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How can I use ""little guidance"" in a sentence?

Example: "Due to the "little guidance" provided, the project faced several challenges."