for a few while

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'for a few while' is not correct or usable in written English.
A few is used as an adjective to describe nouns, so the phrase should be 'for a while.' For example: She wanted to take a break, so she stepped away from her work for a while.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Housing has become an investment opportunity for a few, while for many more it is a constant source of anxiety, insecurity and debt.

The Guardian

In the hands of a capitalist élite, supported by governments in most cases, the machine became an instrument for the creation of huge profits for a few, while the majority toiled long hours.

Independent

The Tories and Republicans "think you can just cut your way to prosperity" but the net result of that approach is "accelerate the trend lines which are to the aggregation of great wealth for a few while everyone else struggles.

The Guardian

I don't kid myself about the unenlightened and even cruel ways capitalism has been practiced by many companies: accumulating wealth for a few while paying most employees subsistence wages; fighting regulation while blithely degrading the environment; avoiding taxes and ignoring responsibilities for the communities in which they're based.

Harvard Business Review

Today we are shifting into another new age -- this one of advanced technologies that are rendering obsolete more and more job skills, creating vast wealth for a few while leaving millions idle or underemployed.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

They are sworn to work for all of us, but work for just a few, while hanging the rest out to dry….they are not earning their pay.

University of California, Berkeley

These floating bookshelves are on sale today for only $11.50 -- snag a few while they last!

HuffPost

Just lie there while he mumbles "holy shit" to himself for a few hours while you fall asleep.

Vice

They may also forage while walking, usually covering the same area repeatedly, pausing for a few seconds while slowly moving a foot to take a new step.

Cornell University

She lived in Nashville for a few months while working for the Gore campaign.

The New York Times

She taught at TSU for a few years, while also working at a Russian NGO.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "for a few while" in formal writing. Use "for a while" or "for a short while" instead to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "few" before "while", which is grammatically incorrect. Remember that "few" should describe countable nouns, not time periods. Always use "for a while" to refer to a period of time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a few while" is intended to function as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating duration. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

40%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for a few while" is considered grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI. While the intention is to indicate a short duration, the correct phrase is "for a while" or "for a short while". Although examples exist in news and academic contexts, it's advisable to avoid this phrase in formal writing to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy. Alternatives such as "for a short while" or "for some time" are preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a short while

Emphasizes brevity of time.

for a little while

Suggests a brief and indefinite period.

for some time

Indicates an unspecified duration.

during a brief period

Highlights the temporary nature of the interval.

for a span of time

Implies a measurable extent of time.

for a moment

Signifies a very short, almost instantaneous duration.

for several minutes

Specifies a longer duration compared to "a moment".

for a couple of hours

Clearly defines a longer timeframe.

for a brief duration

Highlights the concise length of time.

during a small timeframe

Focuses on the limited scope of the time interval.

FAQs

How can I correctly use a phrase similar to "for a few while" in a sentence?

Instead of "for a few while", use the grammatically correct phrase "for a while" to indicate a period of time.

What's a simple substitute for "for a few while" that maintains a similar meaning?

A simple and correct substitute for "for a few while" is "for a short while", which clearly indicates a brief duration.

Is there a difference between "for a few while" and "for a while"?

Yes, "for a few while" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "for a while", which means a period of time.

When is it appropriate to use "for a while" instead of "for a few while"?

Always use "for a while" because "for a few while" is not grammatically correct in standard English. Use "for a few days", "for a few weeks" when referring to countable units of time.