few more efforts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few more efforts" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "a few more efforts" or "few more efforts" depending on the context. Example: "With a few more efforts, we can complete the project on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

After a few more efforts to keep him talking, the line went silent.

The New York Times

General Howe, Strachey writes, "must make a few more efforts in his way, to bring them to reason, and it is impossible to say that the ensuing campaign will effect that purpose".

The New York Times - Arts

Writing in Encounter, he worried that after a "few more years of egalitarian and redistributionist rhetoric, a few hundred more 'entitlements,' " and a few more efforts to achieve "equal rations, equal housing, equal social esteem, equal strength and beauty," no one would know "when the final line between a relatively free order and a collectivist servitude has been crossed".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Robert Kasdin, senior executive vice president at Columbia, said the university is not abandoning efforts to combine technology and learning: "We want to see if we can really make a contribution doing a few more selective efforts.

The New York Times

Here are a few more council efforts to run people's lives.

Forbes

To finish his new route up the Dawn Wall – a climb that has captured media attention around the world – will require a few more days of effort on the sections above.

The Guardian

In the past few years, more and more efforts have been made on designing novel and efficient semiconductor-based heterojunction photocatalyst to maximize the capture and conversion efficiency of solar energy.

Applied Surface Science

It might have worked for a few more years, except for the efforts of Ewing.

The New York Times - Sports

The 1976 race was such an instant success that no one ever had to ask, "Should we do it over again next year?" Indeed, after a few more years and the successful efforts of other great cities like London, Chicago, Berlin, Rome, Paris, and more recently Tokyo and Shanghai, we came to understand the greatest contribution of the 1976 New York City Marathon: it launched the urban-marathon boom.

The New Yorker

Finish up with a few more minutes at a comfortable effort or pace to warm down, and viola!

Huffington Post

"They could have had a few more again but pleased for their efforts and a bit of a turnaround from the last home game when I was told it's a shambles.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to "efforts", consider using "a few more efforts" for grammatical correctness. Alternatively, use "some additional efforts" for a slightly more formal tone.

Common error

A common mistake is omitting the article "a" before "few". Remember to use "a few more efforts" for grammatically sound sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few more efforts" functions as a noun phrase indicating additional attempts or actions undertaken to achieve a specific goal. Ludwig AI identifies that the more grammatically accurate form would be "a few more efforts".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "few more efforts" appears in various sources, it is considered grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI suggests that "a few more efforts" is the more correct and preferred way to phrase this expression. The phrase functions to express additional attempts, often with a neutral to informal tone. When writing formally, consider using "a few more efforts" or alternatives like "additional attempts" for better clarity and grammatical accuracy. Remember to include the article "a" to maintain grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

additional attempts

Replaces 'efforts' with a more formal synonym, focusing on the act of trying.

further endeavors

Uses a more sophisticated term for 'efforts', implying a serious or formal undertaking.

some more tries

Replaces 'efforts' with a more informal word, suggesting a casual approach.

a couple more attempts

Specifies the number of tries, adding a sense of limited quantity.

several additional steps

Focuses on actions as part of a process, rather than general efforts.

a few extra initiatives

Highlights the proactive and planned nature of the additional efforts.

more actions

Simplifies the phrase by using a more general term for 'efforts'.

extra measures

Implies that the efforts are specific actions taken to achieve a goal.

new initiatives

Focuses more specifically on new or original efforts.

repeated trials

Stresses the repetitive nature of the efforts.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "few more efforts"?

While sometimes used, the grammatically preferred form is "a few more efforts". Omitting the article "a" can sound awkward in formal writing.

What's a more formal way to express "few more efforts"?

You could use phrases like "additional attempts" or "further endeavors" to sound more formal.

Can I use "several more efforts" instead of "few more efforts"?

Yes, "several more efforts" is a grammatically correct and acceptable alternative, particularly when emphasizing a larger number of attempts. Using "a few more efforts" implies a smaller number.

What's the difference between "few more efforts" and "a few more efforts"?

"Few more efforts" is less grammatically correct and can sound awkward. "A few more efforts" is the standard and preferred construction in most contexts.