pretty few

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty few" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a small number of things or people. For example, "There were only pretty few people in the theatre tonight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

There are a load of other great old buildings in Cardiff, but they're pretty few and far between.

The Guardian

Tobler said: "There is also the chance of some thundery downpours in eastern areas on Wednesday and Thursday, although they will be pretty few and far between".

The Guardian

"I don't think that anybody can deny that, really, and I think as much as you are getting more women playing lead roles, they're still pretty few and far between".

Independent

This is an incredibly niche issue: the number of women who wear the niqab at all are "pretty few and far between", said Shahin Ashraf, the Muslim chaplain at the University of Birmingham.

The Guardian

What I love about this girl is that she's not pretty!' " Few movie directors have been certifiably blind, and on the strength of this oversight Ratoff tops the list with ease, but, to his credit — and to Kelly's relief — he was ready to rave about this creature for reasons other than her looks.

The New Yorker

Although Musk responded with "Intentionally so," the similarities are actually pretty few.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

I had a pretty tricky few years.

Independent

It's been a pretty good few days for Kathryn Stockett.

The New York Times

"It was a sad, pretty dismal few months," he said.

The New York Times

But given what's at stake, pretty soon few of us will be laughing.

The Guardian - Opinion

A redshirt year halfway through a player's career was "pretty unusual," Few said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pretty few", consider the context. It implies a small number, but with a slightly informal tone. Choose more formal alternatives like "relatively few" in professional settings.

Common error

Avoid using "pretty few" when you want to emphasize extreme scarcity. While it indicates a small number, it doesn't convey the same level of rarity as phrases like "very few" or "extremely limited".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty few" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically modifying a noun to indicate a small quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. It suggests that the number or amount being discussed is less than expected or desired.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretty few" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate a small number or quantity. Ludwig AI validates its acceptability. While its register is mostly neutral to informal, it's crucial to consider the context and opt for more formal alternatives like "relatively few" in professional settings. The phrase primarily serves to express scarcity and is frequently encountered in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather few

Uses "rather" instead of "pretty" to express a similar degree of scarcity.

quite few

Employs "quite" in place of "pretty", maintaining the same intention of indicating a limited amount.

very few

Replaces "pretty" with "very" for emphasis, stressing the small quantity more directly.

really few

Substitutes "pretty" with "really" for a more informal and emphatic way to express scarcity.

relatively few

Adds a sense of comparison, indicating the quantity is small in relation to something else.

fairly few

Uses "fairly" as a substitute, conveying a similar meaning of 'not many'.

limited number

Shifts from an adjective + noun construction to a noun phrase with an adjective, indicating a restricted quantity.

small amount

Changes the phrase to describe an amount rather than a count, maintaining the indication of a reduced quantity.

not many

Offers a more direct and simple alternative, suitable for informal contexts.

scarce number

Emphasizes the rarity or scarcity of the quantity, adding a layer of intensity.

FAQs

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

You can use "pretty few" to indicate a small number or quantity of something. For example, "There are "pretty few" tickets left for the concert".

What's a good alternative to "pretty few" for formal writing?

In formal writing, consider using alternatives like "relatively few" or "a limited number of". These options maintain a similar meaning but sound more professional.

Is "pretty few" the same as "very few"?

While both indicate a small quantity, "very few" ("very few") is generally considered stronger and more emphatic than "pretty few". "Pretty few" has a slightly more casual tone.

Can I use "pretty few" with uncountable nouns?

No, "pretty few" is used with countable nouns. For uncountable nouns, you would use "pretty little" or "not much" instead. For instance, "There's not much time left".