quite few

USAGE SUMMARY

"quite few" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a smaller than expected number. For example, "I thought there would be more guests coming to the event, but only quite few showed up."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The dance purists are, I suspect, quite few in number.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Abscesses could occur anywhere, but quite few that could proceed forward and develop fistulae.

Pathophysiology

Based on these specific requirements for catalysts, quite few of them are practically promising.

Catalysis Today

He suggested I cover the race, so I covered quite few different rallies and events.

The New York Times

Is it because the losers are actually quite few in number?

The Economist

I spoke to quite few people who have said frightening it is at night.

The Guardian

I'd never visited but my best mate was going there and I knew quite few people there," he says.

The Guardian

In fact, over the Jordanian context, the adoption rate of mobile banking is very low and quite few studies that have examined the related issues of mobile banking.

International Journal of Information Management

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Thieu was granting "exclusive" interviews to quite & few American newsmen and telling them that without new aid the North Vietnamese might take over.

The New Yorker

Yes, quite a few.

The New Yorker

Oh yes, quite a few.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quite few" to express a quantity that is smaller than what might be expected or desired. For instance, "Quite few people attended the meeting, suggesting a lack of interest."

Common error

Avoid using additional modifiers that reiterate the scarcity, such as "very quite few", as "quite" already implies a limited quantity. Instead, stick to "quite few" for concise and effective communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite few" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate a relatively small number or amount. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples demonstrating its use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "quite few" is a grammatically sound and frequently used quantifier that expresses a surprisingly small number or amount. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its prevalence across various contexts, especially in scientific and news-related content. While generally neutral in register, it leans towards a more formal tone than alternatives like "not many". As identified by Ludwig, a common writing pitfall is using redundant modifiers, which should be avoided for clear and concise communication. Remember, "quite few" effectively communicates a sense of scarcity or limitation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively few

Indicates a small number in comparison to a larger group or expectation.

very few

Emphasizes the scarcity or lack of something.

fairly few

Suggests a number that is less than average or anticipated.

not many

A more informal way of expressing a limited quantity.

a small number

Directly states that the quantity is limited.

few and far between

Implies that something is rare and not easily found.

scarce

Highlights the limited availability or presence of something.

limited number

Emphasizes the restriction on the quantity or amount.

hardly any

Suggests that there is almost none of something.

a handful

Indicates a very small quantity, easily countable.

FAQs

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

You can use "quite few" to indicate that the number of something is less than expected. For example, "Quite few students attended the lecture today" or "Quite few options are available for this task".

What are some alternatives to "quite few"?

You can use alternatives like "relatively few", "very few", or "a small number" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "quite few" or "not many"?

"Quite few" is generally considered more formal than "not many". "Not many" is suitable for everyday conversation, while "quite few" is appropriate for professional or academic writing.

Can "quite few" be used with both countable and uncountable nouns?

"Quite few" is typically used with countable nouns. For uncountable nouns, phrases like "quite little" or "a small amount of" are more appropriate.