not many of us

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not many of us" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of people within a specific group or context. Example: "Not many of us have had the opportunity to travel abroad this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not many of us.

Independent

Not many of us can say that.

The Guardian - Sport

"Not many of us will ever marry.

The New York Times - Style

"There were not many of us," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

"There's not many of us [PoWs] left now.

Independent

There's not many of us homeless left near the viaduct.

The New York Times

Not many of us are rapists, or murder our wives.

The Guardian

First of all, there's not many of us.

The New York Times - Sports

"Because, if you look around, there are not many of us who do.

Independent

"Sadly, there are not many of us," one of them, a graphic designer, said.

The New Yorker

Not many of us can get a television show out of it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not many of us", consider your audience and the context. In formal writing, "few of us" might be a more appropriate substitute.

Common error

Avoid using "not many of us" in conjunction with other negative words. For example, instead of saying "Not many of us don't like ice cream", say "Few of us dislike ice cream."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not many of us" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a pronoun, modifying an implicit noun phrase. It typically introduces a statement about the limited number of people within a defined group who possess a certain trait, experience, or ability. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatical and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not many of us" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express that a characteristic, experience, or ability is uncommon within a group. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While the phrase maintains a neutral tone, alternatives like "few of us" or "a minority of us" may be more appropriate for formal writing. It’s frequently used in news and media contexts and is a versatile way to convey scarcity or limited occurrence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

few of us

Replaces "not many" with "few", offering a more concise alternative to indicate a small number of people.

a small number of us

Substitutes "not many" with a more explicit expression of quantity, emphasizing the limited quantity.

only a few of us

Adds emphasis using "only" to highlight the scarcity of individuals within the group.

not a lot of us

Replaces "many" with "a lot", creating a more informal alternative with a similar meaning.

just a few of us

Uses "just" to emphasize the limited number of people to express the same point.

a minority of us

Replaces the entire phrase with a more formal and direct term indicating a smaller portion of the group.

hardly any of us

Uses "hardly any" to convey a sense of near absence or extreme scarcity.

not so many of us

Adds "so" before many as an optional intensifier.

not that many of us

Emphasizes the small quantity through the addition of "that" modifying "many".

a select few of us

Implies a specific group is chosen or special, emphasizing exclusivity more than scarcity.

FAQs

What does "not many of us" mean?

The phrase "not many of us" indicates that only a small number of people within a specific group share a certain characteristic, experience, or ability. It implies that something is uncommon or rare among the group being referred to.

What are some alternatives to "not many of us"?

You can use alternatives like "few of us", "a small number of us", or "only a few of us" to express a similar meaning.

How can I use "not many of us" in a sentence?

You can use "not many of us" to describe a situation where a specific condition or event applies to a limited portion of a group. For example, "Not many of us have traveled to Europe", indicating that only a few individuals in the group have had that experience.

Is "not many of us" formal or informal?

The phrase "not many of us" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both informal and semi-formal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, alternatives like "few of us" or "a minority of us" might be more suitable.