few more seconds

USAGE SUMMARY

"few more seconds" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a short amount of time, usually less than a minute. Example: "I just need a few more seconds to finish this task before I can join the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

A few more seconds of footage played.

The New York Times

What use could she have made of even a few more seconds?

The New Yorker

Heads collided, and, after a few more seconds of struggle, the players toppled.

The New Yorker

In a few more seconds, the rocket was pitching itself almost imperceptibly toward the ocean.

The New Yorker

In a few more seconds, there were six Mariners within 10 feet of Cameron.

The New York Times - Sports

I mean, you invite the man here and then insult him?" He listened for a few more seconds.

The New Yorker

6.51pm GMT 90+5 min: Togo take up a few more seconds by replacing Adebayor with Dove Wome.

The Guardian - Sport

He paused, let his mind reflect for a few more seconds, smiled and said, "They were like the Yankees".

The New York Times - Sports

"The clock would have at least given us the opportunity to take a few more seconds off," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Duncan Penny, prosecuting, said: "Whilst he remained on his feet for a few more seconds, soon he fell and his lifeblood ebbed away".

Independent

Now he figures the shorter running start for coverage teams will give returners a few more seconds to make their moves.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "few more seconds" when emphasizing the need for a very short, almost negligible, amount of additional time. For example, "Just wait a "few more seconds" and the download will be complete."

Common error

Avoid using "less" in place of "few" when referring to seconds. "Few" is used for countable items (seconds), while "less" is for uncountable amounts (like time in general). It's correct to say "few more seconds", but incorrect to say "less more seconds".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few more seconds" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying a short duration of time. It modifies verbs by indicating how long an action takes or should take. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and widespread usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "few more seconds" is a grammatically correct and very commonly used phrase to indicate a small amount of additional time. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and provides numerous examples from diverse sources. It is most frequently found in News & Media, Wiki and Sports contexts, functioning as an adverbial modifier to express a brief time extension. When using this phrase, remember that "few" refers to countable units, and avoid the common mistake of substituting it with "less". Consider using alternatives like "a moment more" or "just a little longer" for subtle variations in meaning. This guide ensures you can confidently and accurately use "few more seconds" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a couple of seconds longer

Emphasizes a slightly longer duration using "couple" instead of "few".

just a little longer

Adds "just" for emphasis, suggesting a minimal extension of time.

a moment more

Substitutes "seconds" with "moment", implying a brief period.

some extra seconds

Replaces "few more" with "some extra", indicating additional time.

additional seconds

Uses "additional" instead of "few more", emphasizing the added time.

a little bit longer

Uses a more general term "little bit" to indicate a slight increase in time.

a short while longer

Replaces "seconds" with "while", referring to a brief duration.

a handful of seconds

Uses "handful" to quantify a small number of seconds.

seconds to spare

Focuses on the remaining time, rather than adding more.

brief extension

Expresses the idea as a noun phrase, indicating a short period of added time.

FAQs

How can I use "few more seconds" in a sentence?

You can use "few more seconds" to indicate a brief amount of additional time needed for something. For example, "I just need a "few more seconds" to finish this."

What's a similar phrase to "few more seconds"?

Similar phrases include "a couple of seconds longer", "a moment more", or "just a little longer", depending on the specific context.

Is it ever appropriate to use "less more seconds" instead of "few more seconds"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect to say "less more seconds". Use "few more seconds" when referring to a countable quantity of time.

What's the difference between "few more seconds" and "several more seconds"?

"Few more seconds" implies a smaller amount of time compared to "several more seconds". "Few" suggests a minimal amount, while "several" indicates a slightly larger, though still short, duration.