for few generations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for few generations" is not correct in standard written English; it should be "for a few generations." You can use it when discussing a time span that affects multiple generations, typically in historical or sociological contexts.
Example: "The tradition has been passed down for a few generations, shaping the community's identity."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Long ROH regions have gone through selection for few generations, and will eventually break down into medium and then short ROH.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

However, these populations also evolved for fewer generations than most microbial experimental evolution studies (e.g., Araya et al. 2010; Charusanti et al. 2010), which may have limited the opportunity for new mutations to accumulate.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Not only is this a last chance for generation of English footballers, it might the last chance for England to beat Germany for a few generations.

Huffington Post

Note that this is not the illustrious New York Yacht Club, which screwed down the America's Cup trophy in its palatial clubhouse for a few generations (and sadly failed to qualify for this year's competition).

Forbes

It is well known that in order to have a substantial effect on H e, a bottleneck must be either narrow (very low N e for a few generations) or very prolonged (moderate N e for many generations).

Acta Tropica

This programme tests for a relative excess in heterozygosity that is apparent for a few generations after a bottleneck and develops because allelic diversity declines faster than heterozygosity, due to loss of rare alleles.

BMC Biology

I define locals, for the record, as those of us who have been here for a few generations and plan to stay.

The New York Times

These previous studies had only tested yeast cells that had been dividing for a few generations; it was unknown if cells that had been dividing for longer might respond differently.

eLife

The monsters in "Alien" have only been infecting humans for a few generations, he noted, whereas on Earth parasites have evolved alongside hosts for far longer.

The Washington Post

"He's going to be around for a few generations," Peterson said.

The Guardian

Of Germanic origin, Orestes' family had been Roman citizens for a few generations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "a" before "few" to ensure grammatical correctness: "for a few generations."

Common error

Avoid omitting the article "a" before "few". Saying "for few generations" is grammatically incorrect. Always include the article for proper syntax.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for few generations" as is, functions incorrectly due to the missing article. With the addition of 'a', i.e. "for a few generations", it indicates duration. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, the version without 'a' is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

57%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for few generations" is grammatically incorrect. The correct and commonly used form is "for a few generations". According to Ludwig AI, the inclusion of the article "a" is essential for grammatical correctness. The phrase is used to indicate a duration spanning multiple family lineages or time periods. While examples can be found across various sources, it's important to ensure the corrected form, "for a few generations", is used, particularly in formal writing. Alternatives like "for several generations" or "across a few generations" can also be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for several generations

Indicates a period spanning more than two generations.

over several generations

Highlights a change or effect that accumulates through multiple generations.

for a couple of generations

Specifies a duration of approximately two generations.

spanning a few generations

Emphasizes the continuous nature of a phenomenon across generations.

within several generations

Indicates that something happens inside a timespan of multiple generations.

across a few generations

Focuses on the impact of something over successive generations.

over the course of some generations

Highlights progression and duration across generations.

through a handful of generations

Implies a small number of generations, similar to 'a few'.

in the space of a few generations

Highlights the time frame within which something occurs.

for a limited number of generations

Stresses the finite and relatively short duration.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "for few generations"?

The correct way to phrase this is "for a few generations". The inclusion of the article "a" makes the sentence grammatically sound.

Are there alternatives to saying "for a few generations"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "for several generations", "across a few generations", or "over multiple generations" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "for few generations" grammatically correct?

No, "for few generations" is not grammatically correct. The proper phrasing is "for a few generations".

What does "for a few generations" mean?

The phrase "for a few generations" indicates a period spanning several successive generations, typically implying a duration of time that influences familial or societal trends.