few thousands

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "few thousands" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to a small, but unspecified, number of something. For example: "The store had few thousands of items for sale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But only a few thousands of those troops are ready for combat.

The Economist

Only a few thousands are accepted in top Iranian universities such as the IUST.

The Guardian

This could amount to a few thousands pounds covering several months' salary.

The Guardian

Then, drivers like Juan Manuel Fangio counted their winnings from Grand Prix races in a few thousands of dollars.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's Chevron's right to do that, but when we contribute a few thousands, it's a criminal conspiracy," she said.

The New York Times

"His hand was all beefy because he probably shook a few thousands hands in one day," Dr. Zeldis recounted.

The New York Times

Dr. Lindahl said that spores could survive a few hundred years, maybe even a few thousands, but not for longer.

The New York Times

Under the House bill, this tax — which hits on a few thousands bequests each year — would eventually be eliminated.

The New Yorker

In the greater Tokyo area, the number of all-electric homes grew from just a few thousands a decade ago to 850,000 by the end of 2010.

The New York Times

They have periods of several hours and horizontal wavelengths of a few thousands kilometres.

Geoscience Letters

Image collections can vary from a few thousands to millions of images.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "few thousands", ensure the context makes it clear that you're referring to a quantity greater than one thousand but significantly less than ten thousand. For example, "A few thousands of people attended the event" implies more than one thousand but not an overwhelming number.

Common error

Avoid using "few thousands" when you need to be precise. If the exact number is known or important, provide a more specific figure instead. Instead of saying "The project cost a few thousands", specify "The project cost approximately $3,000".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few thousands" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying a noun. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates a relatively small but unspecified number of thousands. This usage is supported by various examples provided by Ludwig, showing it used to describe quantities of people, dollars, years, etc.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "few thousands" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote a quantity greater than one thousand but not exceedingly large. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to provide an approximate count across various domains, including science, news, and general discourse. While its register is relatively neutral, favoring precision may be preferable in extremely formal contexts. When a broad estimate suffices, "few thousands" offers a concise and widely understood means of conveying magnitude. The examples from Ludwig demonstrate its versatility and frequent presence in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several thousand

Changes the adjective to "several" emphasizing a number greater than two or three.

a couple of thousand

Replaces "few" with "a couple of" suggesting a slightly smaller quantity, closer to two thousand.

a small number of thousands

Adds "small number of" for emphasis, highlighting the limited quantity within the thousands.

a handful of thousands

Uses "handful" for a more figurative sense of a small quantity.

a limited number of thousands

Emphasizes that the number of thousands is not extensive.

a modest few thousand

Adds "modest" to indicate a moderate and unassuming number.

around two or three thousand

Provides a more specific range, limiting the quantity to between two and three thousand.

approximately a thousand or more

Broadens the range, suggesting a quantity starting around one thousand.

a thousand odd

A slightly informal way to indicate a number slightly more than one thousand.

not many thousands

Emphasizes the scarcity of the quantity.

FAQs

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

You can use "few thousands" to describe a quantity that is more than one thousand but not a large number. For example, "The charity received donations from a "few thousands" of people."

What is a more precise alternative to "few thousands"?

If you need to be more specific, you could use phrases like "approximately two thousand", "around three thousand", or "between two and five thousand" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "few thousands" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "few thousands" is generally acceptable in both formal and informal writing. However, for greater precision in formal contexts, consider using a more specific numerical range.

What's the difference between "few thousands" and "several thousands"?

"Few thousands" implies a smaller quantity compared to "several thousands". While both indicate more than one thousand, "several" suggests a higher end of the spectrum within the thousands.