small crowd

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small crowd" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "The small crowd gathered in the park to listen to the speaker."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Crowd (small crowd) roars in approval.

The New York Times

A small crowd formed.

The New York Times - Travel

A small crowd gathered.

The New York Times

A small crowd stared from the sidewalk.

The New York Times

A small crowd followed me in.

The New Yorker

A small crowd waited to try.

The New York Times - Arts

By now, a small crowd had gathered.

The New Yorker

A small crowd had begun to gather.

The New York Times

The relatively small crowd began chanting: "Romney!

The New York Times

A small crowd had gathered.

The New York Times

A small crowd has gathered.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "small crowd" when you want to emphasize the modest size of a group without necessarily implying negativity or disappointment. It's a neutral way to describe the number of people present.

Common error

Avoid using "small crowd" when the actual implication is of a "poor turnout" or "sparse attendance". "Small crowd" is merely descriptive; a poor showing implies disappointment or failure to attract a larger audience. Choose your words to reflect the intended sentiment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small crowd" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "small" modifies the noun "crowd". It describes a group of people, emphasizing its limited size. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Academia

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "small crowd" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a modest gathering of people. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent use, particularly in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure it accurately reflects the size of the group without implying any additional judgment about its quality or success. Alternatives like "intimate gathering" or "limited number of people" can be considered to convey subtle differences in meaning or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

handful of individuals

Uses a more informal and descriptive term for a very small group.

compact group

Highlights the density and closeness of the people gathered.

intimate gathering

Focuses on the closeness and personal nature of the gathering, rather than just the number of people.

thin attendance

Focuses on the lack of a large number of people at an event or meeting.

modest assembly

Suggests a formal or organized gathering that is not large in scale.

reduced turnout

Implies that the expected number of people did not attend.

limited number of people

Emphasizes the restriction on the quantity of individuals present.

select few

Implies that the group is exclusive or chosen for a specific reason.

close-knit circle

Highlights the strong relationships and familiarity within the small group.

scattered gathering

Suggests a dispersed and not very concentrated group of people.

FAQs

How can I use "small crowd" in a sentence?

You can use "small crowd" to describe a modest gathering of people. For instance, "A "small crowd" gathered to watch the street performer" or "Despite the rain, a "small crowd" attended the outdoor concert".

What's a less common synonym for "small crowd"?

A less common synonym for "small crowd" could be "modest assembly", which suggests a more formal or organized gathering that isn't large.

Is it appropriate to use "small crowd" in formal writing?

Yes, "small crowd" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a neutral and clear way to describe a gathering of people. However, in some contexts, more precise language like "limited number of people" may be preferred depending on the level of detail required.

How does "small crowd" differ from "large gathering"?

"Small crowd" indicates a limited number of people, whereas "large gathering" suggests a significant number. The difference lies in the scale of the assembly.