made few changes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made few changes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that only a small number of modifications or adjustments were made to something. Example: "After reviewing the document, I made few changes to improve clarity and flow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

They made few changes in their scheme.

The New York Times - Sports

It also made few changes to its reserve levels, a sign of better financial health.

The New York Times

Ms. Redel has made few changes to the apartment, although she knows others might have gutted it.

The New York Times

Mr. Holding agreed, buying the resort, Snowbasin, in 1984, and for 14 years, he made few changes.

The New York Times

Over the last decade, officials have often discussed regulating brokers more closely but have made few changes.

The New York Times

The inspector general found that "hospitals made few changes to policies or practices" after employees reported harm to patients.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Poorer Africans, who of course make up the continent's overwhelming majority, had made fewer changes.

The New York Times

Hatless, sunscreenless, heedless, men have made fewer changes in the decades of warnings about overexposure to the sun than women have.

The New York Times - Health

As training progressed, all groups made fewer changes in their step lengths.

Brain Structure and Function

Despite that reaction, Mr. McLane chose to make few changes.

The New York Times

Though the script makes few changes in Carl Foreman's original screenplay, here the archetypes become caricatures.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "made few changes", ensure the context clearly indicates what was being modified and the limited extent of those modifications. For instance, specify which document, plan, or process underwent minimal alteration.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the significance of changes when using "made few changes". If the modifications had a substantial impact, consider using a phrase that accurately reflects the magnitude of the alterations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made few changes" functions as a verb phrase, where "made" is the main verb, "few" is a determiner specifying quantity, and "changes" is the noun referring to the alterations. Ludwig AI confirms that it's commonly used to indicate a limited number of alterations or modifications.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

18%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "made few changes" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression indicating a limited number of modifications. Ludwig AI highlights that it functions as a verb phrase conveying minimal alteration. Its register is neutral, making it suitable for diverse contexts, from news reports to encyclopedic entries. While alternative phrases like "implemented minimal alterations" or "introduced slight modifications" exist, "made few changes" remains a straightforward and widely understood choice for expressing minimal alterations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

implemented minimal alterations

Replaces "made" with "implemented", "few" with "minimal", and "changes" with "alterations". It emphasizes the act of implementing and the small number of alterations.

introduced slight modifications

Substitutes "made" with "introduced", "few" with "slight", and "changes" with "modifications". It highlights the introduction of small-scale modifications.

applied minor adjustments

Replaces "made" with "applied", "few" with "minor", and "changes" with "adjustments". It suggests the application of small, precise corrections.

effected limited revisions

Changes "made" to "effected", "few" to "limited", and "changes" to "revisions". It emphasizes the action of effecting and the restricted number of revisions.

executed only a handful of modifications

Replaces "made few changes" with a more descriptive phrase emphasizing the small quantity of modifications.

conducted scarce revisions

Replaces "made" with "conducted", "few" with "scarce", and "changes" with "revisions", indicating a lack of revisions.

undertook rare alterations

Substitutes "made" with "undertook", "few" with "rare", and "changes" with "alterations", conveying the infrequency of alterations.

instituted a small number of modifications

Rephrases to emphasize the institution of a limited quantity of modifications.

brought about limited variations

Replaces "made" with "brought about", "few" with "limited", and "changes" with "variations", indicating restricted variations.

performed insignificant rectifications

Substitutes "made" with "performed", "few" with "insignificant", and "changes" with "rectifications", emphasizing the insignificant nature of the rectifications.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "made few changes"?

Saying someone "made few changes" implies that they only implemented a small number of alterations or modifications to something, suggesting that the original form or structure was largely preserved.

How can I use "made few changes" in a sentence?

You can use "made few changes" to indicate that a person or entity has minimally altered something. For example, "The author "made few changes" to the manuscript after the initial review."

What are some alternatives to "made few changes"?

Some alternatives to "made few changes" include "implemented minor adjustments", "introduced slight modifications", or "applied minimal alterations". These phrases convey a similar meaning of limited alterations.

Is it better to say "made a few changes" or "made few changes"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "made a few changes" suggests a slightly larger number of alterations than "made few changes". The choice depends on the degree of modification you wish to emphasize.