is rather few

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is rather few" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly when trying to express a small quantity, as "few" should be used with "are" instead of "is." Example: "There are rather few options available for this project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Thus, also at rather low data rates, that is, rather few subcarriers assigned to a user per slot, a large frequency diversity can be obtained.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

While internationally, this idea has been promoted more than two decades, in China, which is ideal laboratory to test such practices, related research is rather few, especially quantitative studies.

Ecological Modelling

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

There are still interchanges going on, and in particular the new analysis still has a "last-minute" switch built in as the nearest relatives to Tyrannosaurus itself are actually Asian, but this is rather fewer than before.

The Guardian

Physiological problems of a specifically sexual nature are rather few.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But the legal and constitutional fog means that there might be rather few potential takers.Next year, Mexico will hold a presidential election.

The Economist

More than 1,000 species are known to date, but there are rather few scientists devoted to their study, with many species yet to be found.

The Guardian

"If you look at American history, there have been rather few cases where the American people made a monumentally bad choice," he said.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, there are rather few systems for which the quantum mechanical problems succumb to mathematical analysis, but among these are gases and many solids, enough to validate the theoretical procedures linking laboratory observations to atomic constitution.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Aside from this specimen, dating from about 1000 bce, there appear to have been rather few attempts by Babylonians and Egyptians to show the form and extent of the Earth as a whole.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There are rather few research works addressing the problem of signal mapping to the physical memory.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

(c) Until the early 70's, there were rather few known examples of finitely presented metabelian groups.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "are" instead of "is" when referring to a plural noun like "few". For instance, say "there are rather few examples" instead of "there is rather few examples".

Common error

Avoid using "is" with plural subjects like "few". Always ensure the verb agrees in number with the subject of the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is rather few" attempts to express a limited quantity. However, it is grammatically incorrect due to a subject-verb disagreement; "few" is a plural term and requires the plural verb "are". Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is rather few" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing and speech. Ludwig AI identifies the error. The correct form is "are rather few", or alternative phrases such as "are relatively few" or "are quite limited". While the intended meaning is generally understood, using the grammatically correct alternative enhances clarity and credibility. Although examples of the phrase do exist, they are rare. Stick to established grammatical conventions to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are relatively few

Uses "are" to agree with the plural "few", making it grammatically sound. Emphasizes relativity of the quantity.

are quite limited

Replaces "rather few" with a more formal and correct expression indicating a limited number or extent.

are relatively scarce

Substitutes "few" with "scarce", emphasizing rarity while maintaining grammatical correctness with "are".

are a small number

Expresses the concept of a reduced quantity more directly, maintaining correct grammar.

are not very many

Uses a more verbose but grammatically correct way to indicate a limited quantity.

are few and far between

Emphasizes not only the small quantity but also the separation or rarity of occurrences.

are in short supply

Focuses on the limited availability or deficiency of something.

are barely any

Emphasizes the minimal existence or quantity of something.

are thin on the ground

Idiomatic expression indicating a scarcity or rarity of something.

are seldom encountered

Highlights the infrequency of finding or experiencing something.

FAQs

What's grammatically wrong with the phrase "is rather few"?

The phrase "is rather few" is grammatically incorrect because the verb "is" is singular, while "few" implies a plural subject. The correct form is to use the plural verb "are", as in "there are rather few".

How can I correctly use the idea of "limited quantity" in a sentence?

Instead of "is rather few", you can use phrases like "are relatively few", "are quite limited", or "are not very many" depending on the specific context.

Is "is rather few" ever considered acceptable in informal speech?

While you might encounter "is rather few" in informal speech, it's generally considered non-standard. In formal writing and speaking, always use the grammatically correct alternative "are rather few" or other similar expressions.

What are some formal alternatives to "is rather few"?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives such as "are relatively scarce", "are in short supply", or "are a small number" to maintain grammatical accuracy and professionalism.