few need

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few need" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that only a small number of people or things require something. Example: "In this modern age, few need to rely on traditional methods of communication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Few need to be reminded of Europe before Pearl Harbor, of Rwanda, of Bosnia.

The New York Times

Aside from the odd diplomat or journalist, few need a bag carried.

The Economist

Few need to be reminded of the Philippines, of Vietnam, of Iraq.

The New York Times

America's spies do not necessarily need shifting; a good few need sacking.

The Economist

It was wrong before the credit crunch, but now few need convincing of the fact.

The Guardian - Opinion

One reason African immigrants have flooded the industry is that few need to learn the business.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

They have money to spend but few needs.

The New York Times

The move creates a few needed jobs and meets a few political quotas.

The Guardian

A few needed to consult their notes (like Seinfeld), and one or two actually choked.

The New York Times

Most startups in the space will find that they will eventually need to scale back to a few need-to-know insights with deep dive capability.

TechCrunch

Profile Ranked at No. 9 this year, Amherst College is one of the top small private liberal arts schools in the country and one of the few need-blind institutions.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, specify the reason or item that "few" require, ensuring the sentence is both grammatically sound and easily understood by the reader.

Common error

A common mistake is assuming "few" implies "none". While "few" signifies a small number, it doesn't mean complete absence; ensure your context reflects a small but existent need.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few need" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a verb, indicating a limited requirement or necessity. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in expressing that only a small number of entities require something, aligning with Ludwig AI grammatical assessment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "few need" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey that only a small number of people or things require something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for various contexts, though it is particularly prevalent in news and media sources. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the entities and the needs in question. Avoid assuming "few" means "none"; instead, acknowledge a limited yet existent requirement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very few require

Directly states that only a small number of entities have a specific requirement.

not many necessitate

Emphasizes the limited number needing something, focusing on lack of necessity.

only a handful need

Emphasizes the small quantity of entities that require something.

scarcely require

Emphasizes the minimal requirement, focusing on the lack of necessity.

just a few demand

Similar to 'only a handful', but uses 'demand' to imply a strong need.

hardly demand

Highlights the limited demand or necessity for something.

a small number demand

Emphasizes the diminutive size of the group needing something.

rarely necessitate

Focuses on the infrequency with which something is required.

a minority require

Uses a more formal term to indicate that a small group has a specific need.

only some necessitate

Indicates that just a portion, rather than the majority, requires something.

FAQs

How do I use "few need" in a sentence?

Use "few need" to indicate that only a small number of people or things require something. For example: "In this modern age, "few need" to rely on traditional methods of communication."

What's a good alternative to "few need"?

You can use alternatives like "very few require", "only a handful need", or "not many necessitate" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "few needs" instead of "few need"?

No, "few needs" is incorrect. The word "need" should be used as a verb in this context, not a noun. Therefore, the correct phrase is ""few need"".

What does "few need to be reminded" mean?

It means that most people already know or remember something, so there is little necessity to remind them. For instance, "Few need to be reminded of the importance of regular exercise."