scant samples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scant samples" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there are very few or insufficient samples available for analysis or evaluation. Example: "The research findings were inconclusive due to the scant samples collected during the study."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Such correlative studies represent one of the 'holy grails' that are often attempted to be embedded within pancreatic cancer clinical trials; however, due to scant archived samples and the difficulties in subjecting this patient population to prospective tissue biopsies for research purposes, they continue to present a tremendous challenge in this disease.

British Journal of Cancer

For now, the evidence is scant, the sample size tiny.

The New York Times - Sports

Although the small data sets demonstrate at the most fundamental level the effects of outgroup selection, they still consider only a scant taxonomic sampling.

Genome Biology and Evolution

"Sufficient" cellularity was defined as any case where a cytology diagnosis was made and there was no mention of a scant or paucicellular sample.

BMC Gastroenterology

Two samples showed scant bacteria which were scattered throughout the biopsies, without characteristics of biofilm or intracellular infection.

BMC Pediatrics

Information on aflatoxin contamination of groundnut and the associated fungi and health risks in Ethiopia is scant, confined to limited market samples, and does not particularly address the situation at harvest.

International Journal of Food Contamination

Furthermore the taxon sampling is very scant.

BMC Genomics

The poor condition of the sample and the scant material available did not allow us to obtain, after repetitions of the analyses, a clear evidence of being an AS/Nor98 case.

BMC Veterinary Research

Thus, current genomic knowledge of nemerteans is scant and taxon diversity is poorly sampled.

BMC Genomics

The majority of intervention studies on pediatric obesity have been conducted with white, middle-class samples [ 21], thus providing scant knowledge for intervening with low-income, Hispanic populations.

BMC Public Health

Still, a recent sampling of value managers found scant concern that the bargain bin had been emptied.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scant samples", ensure the context clearly indicates what these samples are meant to represent and why their limited quantity is significant. For instance, specify if the small sample size impacts the reliability of a study or analysis.

Common error

Avoid overstating conclusions based on "scant samples". Acknowledge the limitations imposed by the small sample size and temper any claims made accordingly. Ensure to communicate uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scant samples" primarily functions as a descriptive term, modifying the noun "samples". It indicates that the quantity or amount of samples is limited or insufficient. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scant samples" is a grammatically sound way to describe a limited quantity of samples, often in research or analytical contexts. According to Ludwig AI, it is considered correct and usable. While "scant samples" is relatively infrequent, it effectively communicates a deficiency or limitation. When using the phrase, ensure clarity about the implications of the small sample size. Alternative phrases like "limited samples" or "insufficient samples" can be used for similar effect. Remember, avoid overgeneralizing or drawing definitive conclusions based on "scant samples" without acknowledging the inherent limitations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited samples

Replaces "scant" with a more common synonym, "limited", maintaining the same meaning.

insufficient samples

Uses "insufficient" to emphasize the inadequacy of the sample size.

meager samples

Replaces "scant" with "meager", suggesting a small and possibly inadequate amount.

sparse samples

Emphasizes the scattered and infrequent nature of the samples.

small number of samples

A more explicit and less formal way to express the same concept.

limited quantity of samples

Focuses on the restricted amount of samples available.

paucity of samples

Uses "paucity" to indicate a scarcity or lack of samples; more formal.

rare samples

Highlights the infrequency of finding such samples.

exiguous samples

Uses "exiguous", a less common synonym for "scant", indicating a very small amount.

a trickle of samples

Suggests that samples are arriving or available in a very small and slow stream.

FAQs

How does the use of "scant samples" affect research outcomes?

Using "scant samples" can lead to inconclusive results or findings with limited generalizability due to the small representation of the population. It's crucial to acknowledge this limitation in any analysis or reporting.

What are some alternatives to saying "scant samples"?

You can use alternatives like "limited samples", "insufficient samples", or "meager samples" depending on the context.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "scant samples"?

The phrase "scant samples" is suitable in contexts where you want to emphasize the inadequacy or small quantity of samples, often in scientific research, data analysis, or investigations where a larger sample size would be preferred.

What implications does using "scant samples" have on the validity of a study?

Using "scant samples" raises concerns about the statistical power and validity of a study. It may lead to a higher risk of Type II errors (false negatives) and limit the ability to detect true effects or relationships.