few ones

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few ones" is not correct and is not typically used in written English.
It is generally used to refer to a small number of specific items or individuals, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "I have a few ones in mind that I would like to discuss further."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"It's difficult to make real friends in the Formula One paddock, and he was one of the few ones that Ayrton was fully comfortable with".

The New York Times - Sports

Among the studies above, there are a few ones evaluating the therapeutical effect on patients with primary or secondary GN.

BioMed Research International

Several researchers such as Wang et al. [36] have considered positive, negative and neutral classes to extract the sentiment of a document (based on words and/or emoticons) and only few ones, such Khatua et al. [17], have examined the polarity degree (i.e. highly, moderately, weakly positive and negative classes).

Journal of Big Data

Oxygen-enriched boron carbonitrides – known as boron carbon oxinitrides, BCNOs – have exhibited remarkable properties with numerous works reporting on their performance as phosphors and some few ones as H2-adsorbents.

Carbon

Numerical simulations highlighting the implications of a number of parameters on eigenfrequencies, as well as validations against the few ones available in the specialized literature, are presented.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Most of the previous studies have focused on the characterization of these features, whereas a very few ones have tried to estimate what is the extent and order of magnitude of erosion rates in these areas.

Marine and Petroleum Geology

But it's also an inventive take on the cloud-sheep species, and one of the few ones involving a sheep that wasn't getting reamed.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

While bundling Sid Caesar's mail one morning, I slipped in a few one-liners.

The New Yorker

Female zebra finches, on the other hand, are limited to a few one-note low frequency calls.

The New York Times - Science

Despite a few one-liners that fell pitiably flat, Romney turned in a strong performance, emphasis on the word performance.

The New York Times

Depressingly few, one suspects.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to refer to a limited quantity, avoid using the phrase "few ones". Instead, opt for more grammatically sound options like "a few of them" or "a small number".

Common error

Avoid adding "ones" after "few". While understandable, it's not standard English. Replace "few ones" with "a few of them" or simply use "few" followed by the noun you're referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few ones" functions as a determiner followed by a pronoun, intending to specify a small quantity of items. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically questionable and not considered standard English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

64%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "few ones" appears frequently across diverse sources, including scientific and news media, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The phrase intends to convey a limited quantity, but standard English offers better alternatives such as "a few of them" or "a small number". To ensure clear and correct communication, avoiding "few ones" in favor of these established alternatives is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few of them

Replaces the noun "ones" with the pronoun "them", creating a more natural and grammatically correct construction.

just a few

Adds emphasis to the small quantity being referred to.

only a few

Highlights the limited nature of the quantity.

a small number

Uses a more formal and widely accepted phrase to indicate a limited quantity.

a small amount

Shifts the focus to the quantity, particularly suitable when referring to non-countable items.

a handful

Employs a more informal and vivid expression to suggest a small quantity that can be held in one hand.

limited number

Uses a formal tone emphasizing the restriction of quantity.

several

Offers a more general term for indicating more than two but not many.

a couple

Specifies exactly two, offering a more precise alternative when appropriate.

some

Provides a very general term to indicate an unspecified quantity.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "few ones"?

No, the phrase "few ones" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use alternatives like "a few of them" or simply "few" followed by the noun you are referencing.

What's a better alternative to "few ones"?

Instead of "few ones", you can use phrases such as "a small number", "just a few", or "a few of them" depending on the context.

How can I use "few" correctly in a sentence?

Use "few" directly before the noun you are referring to. For example, instead of "few ones", you could say "few options" or "few examples". If you are referring to specific items, use "a few of them".

What is the difference between "few" and "a few"?

"Few" implies a small number, suggesting almost none, and often carries a negative connotation. "A few" indicates a small number but is generally more positive. For instance, "few problems" suggests there were nearly no problems, whereas "a few problems" means there were some, but not many.