hardly a few

USAGE SUMMARY

'hardly a few' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe a very small number of things, qualities, or people. Example: I had hardly a few days left to finish the project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"There seems to be a political design behind her killing, as it comes hardly a few months before elections," said Amar Singh, a party leader.

The New York Times

As we see across nations, hardly a few dozen countries have some sort of AI strategy (Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, EU Commission, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nordic-Baltic Region, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, Tunisia, UAE, United Kingdom and the United States).

Forbes

It's existence is a little puzzling, considering that the original Titan is hardly a few months old, but hey — if Samsung can get away with some incremental hardware bumps, why can't HTC? Pantech's new LTE-capable Element tablet has just been made official, but that's not all that the Korean company has prepared for AT&T's big LTE push.

TechCrunch

Hardly a few feet away, I studied her anatomy in awe and fear.

HuffPost

While I left Lelo and China two years ago (I contracted for one year, per my working visa), hardly a few weeks go by without a nostalgic flashback.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The soon-to-be-former residents said there was hardly any — just a few backyard parties that wound down relatively early.

The New York Times

For a start, it's hardly remote - just a few miles north of Bristol and wedged between the M5 and M4 motorways.

The Guardian - Tech

Technical advances interconnect us in ways hardly imagined just a few decades ago.

Diabetes Care

Smartphones, digital cameras, GPS positioning and progress in geospatial analysis offer possibilities for 'apps' and techniques that were hardly imagined just a few years ago.

BMC Ecology

Lee C. Bollinger, the president of Columbia University, drew a distinction between the harsh comments, which he said "reflect the views of hardly more than just a few people," and the disappointment that "reflects the sense of enormous connection with the president as an alum".

The New York Times

In Australia, hardly anyone has "just a few drinks".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly a few" to subtly express that the quantity or number is surprisingly low. It is more nuanced than simply saying 'few'.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly a few" when you simply want to state 'few'. The 'hardly' adds an element of unexpected scarcity or surprise, so ensure that connotation fits your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly a few" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating a small quantity. According to Ludwig, it's correctly used to describe a very small number. It modifies the noun it precedes, suggesting scarcity or surprise at the limited amount.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly a few" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a surprisingly small quantity. According to Ludwig AI, it effectively describes a very limited amount. While examples are relatively rare, it appears in diverse sources like news articles and scientific publications. The phrase conveys a subtle sense of scarcity and can be replaced with alternatives like "barely any" or "scarcely any" for similar effect. When using this phrase, be mindful of its connotation of surprise or unexpected lack to ensure accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly any at all

Emphasizes the lack of quantity more intensely.

barely any

Focuses more on the scarcity, implying near absence.

scarcely any

Similar to 'barely any', but can also convey a sense of surprise that there's so little.

almost none

Emphasizes the near-zero quantity.

very few

A more direct way of stating that the quantity is small.

next to nothing

Idiomatic expression indicating a very small amount.

just a handful

Implies a small number that can be counted on one hand.

a small number of

A more formal and neutral way of saying "hardly a few".

a minimal amount of

Highlights the insignificance of the quantity.

a trickle of

Suggests a slow and minimal flow or presence.

FAQs

What does "hardly a few" mean?

"Hardly a few" means there is very little of something, almost none. It implies a quantity smaller than expected.

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

You can use it like: "There were "barely any" seats left; there were "hardly a few" available".

Is "hardly a few" the same as "just a few"?

No, "hardly a few" implies a surprisingly small amount, whereas "just a few" simply means a small number without the element of surprise or scarcity.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "hardly a few"?

Some alternatives include "scarcely any", "almost none", or "very few" depending on the context.