few more steps

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few more steps" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be "a few more steps" to be grammatically accurate. Example: "We are almost there; we just need to take a few more steps to reach the finish line."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Now, a few more steps.

The New York Times

A few more steps.

The Guardian

But a few more steps remain.

The New York Times

Mr. Avila turned and took a few more steps.

The New York Times

In her view, there are just a few more steps.

The New York Times - Health

That's a few more steps than it needs to be.

The New York Times

A few more steps and he would have made it.

The Guardian

Just a few more steps and I'm there, I'm home.

The Guardian - Books

They reckon that only a few more steps are needed for an agreement.

The Economist

We just have to walk a few more steps and then we'll be there".

The New Yorker

It's just a few more steps than I want to take".

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use alternatives to avoid repetition. Depending on the context, consider variations like "a couple more steps", "several more steps", or "a bit further".

Common error

The most common mistake is omitting the article "a" before "few", resulting in the ungrammatical phrase "few more steps". Remember to always include the "a" for grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few more steps" (ideally "a few more steps") primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating the extent or degree to which an action needs to be performed or a goal needs to be approached. It specifies the amount of additional effort or progress required.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

12%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "few more steps" is commonly used, it is grammatically incorrect in standard written English, as confirmed by Ludwig. The correct form is "a few more steps". This phrase functions as an adverbial phrase to suggest minimal effort is needed to reach a goal. It is found across various sources, particularly in news and media. Alternatives like "a couple more steps" or "a bit further" can be used for variety. Remember to include the article "a" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a couple more steps

Uses "couple" instead of "few", implying a slightly smaller number of steps but is grammatically correct.

a few additional steps

Adds the adjective "additional" to emphasize that these steps are extra or supplementary.

several more steps

Replaces "few" with "several", suggesting a larger, but still indefinite, number of steps.

some more steps

Uses "some" in place of "few", implying a non-specific quantity.

just a little further

Adds "just" to indicate the small amount of progress needed. Focuses on proximity to the goal.

a bit further

Uses a different construction focusing on the distance to be covered rather than the individual steps. Implies less precision.

a little further

Similar to "a bit further", but emphasizes a slightly smaller distance.

the next few steps

Highlights that these are the immediate subsequent actions, indicating that there are more than one. Grammatically correct

a handful more steps

Uses "handful" to suggest a small, manageable quantity of steps.

remaining steps

Focuses on the idea of steps left to do, but doesn't specify quantity. Implies that there might be other unspecified requirements.

FAQs

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

No, it is not grammatically correct in standard written English. The correct phrase is "a few more steps". The inclusion of the article "a" makes the phrase grammatically sound.

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

"Few more steps" is missing the article "a", making it grammatically incorrect. "A few more steps" is the grammatically correct and widely accepted version.

What are some alternatives to saying "a few more steps"?

You can use alternatives like "a couple more steps", "several more steps", or "a bit further", depending on the context.

When should I use "a few more steps" in a sentence?

Use "a few more steps" when you want to indicate that only a small, non-specific number of additional actions or movements are needed to achieve a goal or complete a task.