small few

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small few" is not standard in written English and may be considered incorrect.
It is typically used to refer to a very limited number of people or things, but the word "few" already implies a small quantity, making "small" redundant. Example: "Only a small few of the attendees stayed until the end of the event."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

It's possible that a small few just relish the takedown but don't care about the politics.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hulme and Gaudler-Brzeska, died in action, Vorticism shriveled to a small few by the beginning of the 1920s.

Britannica

For most people, potholes are banal, a minor nuisance, but for a small few they turn out to be catastrophic.

The Guardian

Hollywood paints them as powerful and emotionless predators – a small few who have embraced their inner dark passengers.

The Guardian

Alumnae who do are mostly pleased, though a small few have called to say they do not think the school is taking the right course, Ms. Nemerowicz said.

The New York Times

College sports without some kind of oversight body is good for only a small few, but this type of body isn't the right one.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

2. The business is small (fewer than 25 employees), profitable and relatively debt-free.

The New York Times

AgNDs are small, few-atom clusters that exhibit discrete electronic transitions and strong photoluminescence [10, 11].

Nanoscale Research Letters

The small, few-block district also has a chocolate shop, elegant but not overly expensive restaurants and bars, a dog boutique and other unique shops that make for a nice girls' day out or a fun stroll with the family.

Huffington Post

I was surprised that Elmore Leonard's output was relatively "small," fewer than 50 novels.

Huffington Post

Populations are generally small (fewer than 10 plants) on slopes above watercourses.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "small few" in formal writing. Opt for more concise alternatives like "a few" or "a small number" to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Do not use "small few" thinking it adds emphasis. The word "few" already implies a small quantity, making "small" redundant and weakening your writing. Replace it with just "a few" for a cleaner sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small few" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a limited quantity or number. While it aims to specify a subset, the redundancy impacts its grammatical elegance. Ludwig AI suggests that while present in writing, it is not considered standard English and may be improved by removing "small".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "small few" appears in various sources, its grammatical status is questionable due to redundancy. As Ludwig AI explains, the inclusion of "small" is unnecessary because "few" already implies a limited quantity. It's generally recommended to use more concise alternatives like "a few" or "a small number", especially in formal writing. Despite its common usage, particularly in News & Media, adopting clearer language enhances the precision and effectiveness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarce few

Emphasizes the rarity or limited availability in addition to the small quantity.

tiny few

Highlights the insignificance in size of the group or number.

limited few

Focuses on the restricted or finite nature of the quantity.

select few

Suggests that the small group is chosen or exclusive in some way.

handful

Implies a quantity that can be counted on one hand, emphasizing a very small number.

negligible few

Indicates that the small number is so insignificant as to be almost not worth considering.

mere handful

Emphasizes the insignificance of the small number.

exiguous few

Highlights the extreme scarcity and smallness of the number.

a small minority

Refers to a group representing a small portion of a larger population.

a sprinkling of

Conveys a very small and sparsely distributed quantity.

FAQs

Is "small few" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "small few" is grammatically redundant. "Few" already implies a small number, making the adjective "small" unnecessary. Consider alternatives like "a few" or "a small number".

What can I say instead of "small few"?

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

When is it acceptable to use "small few"?

Although not strictly incorrect, using "small few" is generally discouraged in formal writing. It might be acceptable in informal contexts where emphasis is desired, but clearer and more concise options are usually preferable.

How does "small few" compare to "a few"?

"A few" is the more standard and grammatically sound choice. "Small few" is redundant because "few" already signifies a small quantity. Therefore, "a few" is almost always the better option.