poor in number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poor in number" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the quantity of something is low or insufficient. Example: "The attendees at the meeting were poor in number, leading to a lack of diverse opinions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Nevertheless, the literature on SA applications for SWCNT-based ultrafast optical switching stays poor in number.

Nanoscale Research Letters

These fish occupy very special position in food webs, ensuring energy transfer between species lower and higher levels, while forming narrow "wasp-waists" poor in number of species (but very abundant).

Journal of Marine Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The fine elastin fibers connecting the thick elastin fibers and smooth muscle cells to each other were circumferentially and longitudinally fast woven in the two control groups, whereas they were poorer in number and networking in the FLT group than in the control groups.

BioMed Research International

Yet, even as the poor grow in number, they become ever more isolated.

Huffington Post

Animal life in the Arctic, compared with that of warmer parts, is poor in the number of species but often rich in individual numbers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Red Tarn, a classic corrie tarn, is a high altitude tarn with low nutrient levels and poor in the number of species it supports.

Wikipedia

It celebrates her early work in Calcutta's slums and credits her order and its outgrowths with providing "effective help to the poorest of the poor in a number of countries".

Huffington Post

In June 2011, the NHIF released funds to pay for CHF cards for the poor in a number of districts across the country, including the rural district.

Health Research Policy and Systems

India, home to most of the world's poor in absolute numbers today and another hub of MDGs efforts, also showed slower progress than its giant neighbor.

Huffington Post

However, in the similar comparison Canadian sites in our sample did poorer in a number of areas: functional decline (in IADLs, ADLs, communication, and cognition), problem rates in a number of clinical areas (bladder decline, falls, and injuries), and the proportion of persons who enter a hospital or emergency room.

BMC Geriatrics

What the left-handed-hitting Martinez did in that at-bat -- ripping the ball to left field -- was something that he struggled to do most of the season, when he batted.258 with 16 homers and 91 runs batted in, poor numbers in comparison to those he had put up in the past.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "poor in number", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking in quantity. For instance, specify "poor in number of available resources" for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "poor in number" when describing quality or skill. This phrase strictly relates to quantity; use alternatives like "lacking in skill" or "deficient in quality" when necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor in number" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that the quantity or amount of something is insufficient or lacking. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "poor in number" is grammatically sound and used to describe a deficiency in quantity. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is considered correct and suitable for written English. While its frequency is uncommon, it appears across various contexts, particularly in scientific, news, and general discussions. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking in quantity. Alternatives like "few in number" or "scarce in quantity" can be used to add variety to your writing. Despite its correctness, it's important to avoid using the phrase when describing quality, skill or ability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

few in quantity

Uses "few" instead of "poor" to emphasize the small amount or limited number available.

small in amount

Employs "small" rather than "poor" to denote the reduced scale or limited size.

scarce in quantity

Replaces "poor" with "scarce" and "number" with "quantity", emphasizing the limited amount.

lacking in abundance

Substitutes "poor" with "lacking" and "number" with "abundance", focusing on the absence of plentifulness.

deficient in volume

Replaces "poor" with "deficient" and "number" with "volume", highlighting the insufficiency in size or extent.

insufficient in magnitude

Replaces "poor" with "insufficient" and "number" with "magnitude" to highlight the inadequate size or extent.

limited in supply

Substitutes "poor" with "limited" and "number" with "supply", indicating a restricted availability.

meager in count

Replaces "poor" with "meager" and "number" with "count", suggesting a small or inadequate tally.

rare in occurrence

Switches to "rare" to highlight the infrequency or uncommon nature of something.

thin on the ground

An idiomatic expression meaning scarce or not readily available.

FAQs

How can I use "poor in number" in a sentence?

You can use "poor in number" to describe a situation where something is lacking in quantity. For example, "The attendees at the meeting were "poor in number", leading to a lack of diverse opinions."

What can I say instead of "poor in number"?

You can use alternatives like "few in number", "scarce in quantity", or "limited in supply" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "poor in number" or "low in number"?

Both ""poor in number"" and "low in number" are grammatically correct, but ""poor in number"" often implies a deficiency or inadequacy, while "low in number" simply indicates a small quantity.

What's the difference between "poor in number" and "small in number"?

"Poor in number" suggests a deficiency, implying that the quantity is less than desired or needed. "Small in number" simply states that the quantity is not large, without necessarily implying a negative connotation.