few reference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few reference" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "few references"? You can use "few references" when discussing a limited number of sources or citations in a written work or research context. Example: "In my paper, I only found a few references that supported my argument."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

A few reference works mention her; otherwise, she has vanished from the historical record.

The New Yorker

In the car, he kept an English-Arabic dictionary, a thesaurus, a few reference books, some American fiction, and a favorite edition of the work of Kahlil Gibran.

The New Yorker

Until fairly recently I swore I'd never go all technological, but now I use Crossword Compiler software along with a few reference books and the internet.

The Guardian

Some of these criticisms are unanswerable: for example, we didn't give our cover artist any particular direction on what facial expressions to use; my hunch is that there are relatively few reference pictures of Angela Merkel grinning ear to ear.

The Guardian - Opinion

Spending these last years absorbed in tasks by which I do not identify myself, and for which I have very few reference points, has allowed me to hear, when approaching my fiction, right at the instant when all the frequencies are tapped into at once, what is static, and what is tuned.

The New Yorker

These and other films, many of which starred Burt Reynolds, were seen by an audience of hundreds of millions worldwide, yet few reference books acknowledged his 45-year-long career — an unjustified omission, if only because of his exceptionally rare transition from stuntman to Hollywood director.

The Guardian - Film

They are aging, and cannot respond quickly to all the calls for their skills; there is limited access to the taxonomic work published so far; identifying and naming organisms can be difficult and time-consuming, and there are too few reference collections and libraries around the world.

The Economist

The exception was for the northern costal area, which had few reference sites.

Ecological Indicators

The laparoscopic repair is effective but used in few reference centres.

Gynecological Surgery

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

He made few references to policy.

The Guardian

The war logs make few references to the devices.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure that the noun following "few" is plural. Use "few references", "few examples", or "few instances" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Remember that "few" indicates a small number that is almost negligible, often with a negative connotation. If you mean a small number that is still significant, use "a few" instead of "few".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few reference" is grammatically incorrect and is typically intended to mean a small number of references. As Ludwig AI points out, the grammatically correct phrase is "few references."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "few reference" appears frequently across various sources according to Ludwig, it's grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning is to convey a small number of references. The correct phrasing is "few references", ensuring the noun is plural. This issue influences its perceived formality. Ludwig AI also indicates that the phrase is most prevalent in scientific and news media contexts. Always ensure grammatical accuracy to maintain clarity and credibility in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited references

Replaces "few" with "limited", emphasizing the restricted quantity of references.

scarce references

Substitutes "few" with "scarce", highlighting the rarity of references.

minimal reference points

Replaces "few" with "minimal" and uses "reference points" to suggest a lack of benchmarks.

limited number of sources

Expands the phrase to specify a restricted quantity of sources.

rarely referenced

Changes the structure to an adverbial phrase indicating infrequent citation.

restricted availability of citations

Emphasizes the limited accessibility of citations.

insufficient data

Shifts the focus to data instead of references, implying a lack of adequate information.

sparse documentation

Focuses on the lack of documentation instead of direct references.

scant regard

Alters the context to indicate a lack of attention or consideration.

meager evidence

Highlights the insufficiency of evidence instead of references.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "few" in a sentence?

When using "few", ensure that the noun you are referring to is plural. For example, it's correct to say "few references" instead of the incorrect "few reference".

What does "few" imply in a sentence?

"Few" implies a small quantity that is often perceived negatively. If you want to express a small but significant quantity, consider using "a few" instead.

What are some alternatives to "few" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "limited", "scarce", or "minimal" to convey a similar meaning.

How does the meaning change when I use "few" versus "a few"?

"Few" generally has a negative connotation, suggesting a deficiency or lack, while "a few" indicates a small quantity that is still present or significant. For example, "I have few friends" sounds more negative than "I have a few friends".