sparse among

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sparse among" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is thinly distributed or present in small amounts within a particular group or area. Example: "The wildlife was sparse among the dense forest, making it difficult to spot any animals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Formal & Business

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Of note, data are sparse among nondiabetic youth of similar age (11, 18, 23).

Diabetes Care

In the past, opportunities for learning foreign languages were limited or even discouraged, meaning that knowledge of foreign languages has been sparse among the younger generations.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This is achieved for example, by iteratively setting weak connections to zero [ 9], choosing the sparsest among all possible solutions [ 10], or simply imposing a maximum number of regulators per gene [ 11].

BMC Systems Biology

The Sofia Journal article on Monday, about the sparse awareness among young Bulgarians about their country's Communist past, misstated the timing of the country's expected entry into the European Union.

The New York Times

SR2MCC considers both correlation and sparse discrimination among multiple views.

Journal of Visual Communication and Image Representation

Detecting the communities in networks means the appearance of dense connected groups of vertices and sparse connections among groups.

EPJ Data Science

The exchange grid is designed not as a sparse matrix among all possible pairs of parent grid cells but as a compact array pointing back to the parents.

Parallel Computational Fluid Dynamics 2005 Theory and Applications

Analyses were restricted to Caucasian women (n=1051) because of sparse data among women of other races.

British Journal of Cancer

However, the data linking dementia and MCI are sparse, especially among elderly hypertensive patients.

Clinical interventions in aging

However, the data on weight change and breast cancer risk from prospective studies are sparse, especially among premenopausal women.

British Journal of Cancer

So far, empirical data about symptom distress in relation to glucose metabolism status and comorbidities are sparse, especially among subjects with impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) (pre-diabetes).

Diabetes Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sparse among", ensure the context clearly defines the population or area where the sparsity is observed. Providing specific details enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "sparse among" when a more precise descriptor of distribution or quantity would be more appropriate. For example, specify if the sparsity is due to uneven distribution or simply low overall quantity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sparse among" functions as an adjective modifying a noun, followed by a prepositional phrase. It describes the distribution or presence of something within a defined group or area. As confirmed by Ludwig, the usage is correct, indicating that it is a valid way to describe the concept of something being thinly distributed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

68%

News & Media

16%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sparse among" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to indicate a thin distribution or limited presence within a specific group or area. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and suitable for use in written English.

While examples are less frequent in everyday conversations, it's common in more formal writing, especially scientific and news contexts. When writing, make sure that the group or population you are referring to is properly specified, and also consider more semantically appropriate alternatives (like "scarce within" or "limited within") depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

By paying attention to these details, you can confidently use the phrase "sparse among" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarce within

Replaces "sparse" with "scarce", emphasizing a deficiency or insufficiency within a group.

limited within

Substitutes "sparse" with "limited", focusing on the restricted quantity or extent of something.

rarely found among

Emphasizes the infrequency of occurrence using "rarely found" instead of "sparse".

thinly distributed across

Focuses on the distribution pattern being spread out with fewer instances.

infrequent among

Replaces "sparse" with "infrequent", highlighting the low occurrence rate.

scattered throughout

Highlights the scattered distribution with "scattered" replacing "sparse" and "throughout" used to define the group

patchy within

Indicates an uneven distribution, where something is only present in certain areas or groups.

minimal among

Emphasizes the very small amount or degree of something using "minimal" instead of "sparse".

deficient within

Focuses on the lack or inadequacy of something within a specified group.

underrepresented among

Highlights that a group or element has fewer instances than expected within a larger group.

FAQs

How can I use "sparse among" in a sentence?

You can use "sparse among" to describe something that is thinly distributed or present in small amounts within a particular group or area. For example, "Data is "sparse among" nondiabetic youth of similar age."

What are some alternatives to "sparse among"?

Alternatives include "scarce within", "limited within", or "rarely found among", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "sparse among" always the best choice, or are there situations where another phrase would be more appropriate?

While grammatically correct, "sparse among" might not always be the most precise choice. If you're referring to uneven distribution, "patchy within" may be better. If you mean very low quantity, "minimal among" could be more suitable.

What's the difference between "sparse among" and "scattered throughout"?

"Sparse among" implies a low density or amount within a specific group, while "scattered throughout" emphasizes a distribution pattern across an area or population, without necessarily implying a low density.