small number of emails

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small number of emails" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a limited quantity of emails in a specific context, such as communication or correspondence. Example: "I received a small number of emails regarding the upcoming meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

We decided to assess them, not by a small number of emails, but by independent reviews," Davies said.

The Guardian

A Nottingham Trent university spokesman said: "A small number of emails were unfortunately sent to applicants who have exceeded or slightly missed their required grades.

The Guardian

In a comment appended to the memo, Sandberg admitted that she had "received a small number of emails where Definers was referenced".

The Guardian - Tech

This demonstrates that caution should be used when interpreting the results of phishing studies that rely on only a small number of emails and/or emails of limited diversity.

Computers & Security

Tonight a source close to the new police investigation said the latest evidence passed to the Metropolitan police so far amounted to only a small number of emails, although detectives believe there may be many more.

The Guardian

Der Spiegel based the allegations on a small number of emails it claimed had been leaked to it by an anonymous person based in Portugal, given the name John.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

At the onset of email, in large part because of the newness of the medium and the small numbers of emails received, consumers opened the messages and read them.

Huffington Post

"Only a very small number of the emails containing classified information bore markings indicating the presence of classified information," he said.

The Guardian

The company also confirmed that at the time of the earlier attack a small number of employee email accounts had been accessed by the SEA.

BBC

Apologies for only being able to include a small number of the aforementioned emails etc.

The Guardian - Sport

On Tuesday, the FBI informed the Senate judiciary committee that only "a small number" of the thousands of emails found on the laptop had been forwarded there, while most had simply been backed up from electronic devices.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "small number of emails", ensure the context clearly indicates what the emails pertain to, such as "a small number of emails regarding the project deadline".

Common error

Avoid using "small number of emails" to downplay the importance of the content within those emails. Focus on the content's significance rather than solely the quantity of emails.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small number of emails" functions as a quantifier followed by a noun. It specifies a limited quantity of emails, acting as a determiner modifying the noun "emails". Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

32%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small number of emails" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate a limited quantity of email correspondence. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability across various contexts. It is considered neutral in register and finds frequent use in news, scientific, and academic domains. Alternatives such as "few emails" or "limited number of emails" can be used for conciseness or emphasis. When using the phrase, ensure clarity regarding the subject matter of the emails and avoid downplaying the significance of their content based solely on quantity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

few emails

Replaces "small number" with the more concise adjective "few".

limited number of emails

Substitutes "small" with "limited", emphasizing the restricted quantity.

a handful of emails

Uses a more informal and figurative expression for a small quantity.

minimal emails

Replaces "small number" with the adjective "minimal", highlighting the scarcity.

a trickle of emails

Suggests a very small and infrequent flow of emails.

a smattering of emails

Implies a scattered and sparse distribution of emails.

scant emails

Uses the adjective "scant" to emphasize the insufficiency of emails.

a modicum of emails

Employs "modicum" to suggest a small or moderate amount of emails.

a sparse collection of emails

Replaces "small number" with "sparse collection", highlighting the lack of abundance.

a negligible quantity of emails

Emphasizes that the number of emails is so small that it can be disregarded.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "small number of emails"?

You can use alternatives like "few emails", "limited number of emails", or "a handful of emails depending on the context".

Is it better to say "small number of emails" or "few emails"?

Both "small number of emails" and "few emails" are grammatically correct. "Few emails" is more concise and often preferred in informal contexts, while "small number of emails" can be used in more formal settings.

How do I emphasize that the emails are not important, even though there are a small number of them?

You can use phrases like "a "negligible quantity of emails"" or "only a limited number of emails with no critical information".

When is it appropriate to use "small number of emails" in professional communication?

It's appropriate when you want to acknowledge that you've received some emails but not an overwhelming amount. For example, "I received a "small number of emails" regarding the new policy, which I will address shortly".