sparse number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sparse number of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to refer to a small quantity or amount of something. For example, "The tropical rainforest has a sparse number of large predators."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

They'll be competing against Americans for our sparse and sparse number of jobs and limited public services".

The New Yorker

Taking advantage of this long-range LD, mapping of disease loci with GWAS becomes highly efficient, even with a relatively sparse number of tagSNPs8.

Nature

Though several other vocabularies and grammatical sketches followed, that century and the next saw a rather sparse number of works on African languages.

Britannica

Oil prices have also been traditionally higher in the Northeast than in much of the rest of the country, because of a high demand and a sparse number of large refineries.

The New York Times

Crystallin gene expression in lens is regulated at the level of transcription by a sparse number of specific DNA-binding transcription factors.

Journal of Molecular Biology

However, the UCS and E data obtained for a project site is generally limited, and the sparse number of UCS and E data often obtained is not sufficient to provide joint probability distribution of UCS and E and to estimate their correlation coefficient.

International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Sitcom veteran Ben Kellett directs it functionally, venturing brief, touristy exteriors of Dublin – in which sparse numbers of extras are seen congregating – before retreating to safe, obvious, cheap-looking set-bound business.

The Guardian - Film

Using images of the House of Commons in London, a gathering of heads of state, the contestants on University Challenge or a UN convention, a campaign has Photoshopped all the men out of sight to highlight the sparse numbers of women with power.

Independent

In one of his last acts, Mr. Mayer's department mapped nine million acres of remaining sagebrush ecosystems in Nevada and identified core areas of the birds' most vital habitat, as well as places with sparse numbers of sage grouse that it considered better candidates for development.

The New York Times

Limited Plexin-A3 is detectable on sparse numbers of SGN processes in the OHC region (arrowhead).

eLife

Alcohol attributable fractions were stratified by sex but not by country because of sparse numbers of cases in some countries.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sparse number of", ensure the context clearly indicates what the limited quantity refers to. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "sparse number of" when a more descriptive term like "negligible" or "insignificant" would better convey the extremely low quantity. Choose words that accurately reflect the actual scarcity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sparse number of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a small and often insufficient quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

71%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sparse number of" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a limited quantity or infrequent occurrence of something. According to Ludwig AI, it is considered correct and suitable for use in written English. While "sparse number of" sees frequent use in the scientific community, the phrase also appears in news media and encyclopedic articles. When using "sparse number of", be sure that the context makes it clear to what the phrase refers. Alternatives such as "limited quantity of" or "scarce quantity of" may also fit the context better.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited quantity of

Focuses on the small amount available.

small amount of

A general alternative, highlighting the reduced quantity.

reduced number of

Emphasizes the act of decreasing the count.

meager quantity of

Suggests that the amount is insufficient or poor.

scarce quantity of

Highlights the limited availability or rarity.

few instances of

Highlights the infrequent occurrence or examples.

infrequent cases of

Indicates that the occurrence is not common.

low incidence of

Used to refer to occurrences or appearances.

minimal presence of

Describes a barely noticeable or very small presence.

isolated incidents of

Highlights how infrequently something happens.

FAQs

How can I use "sparse number of" in a sentence?

You can use "sparse number of" to describe a small quantity or infrequent occurrence. For example: "There was a "sparse number of" attendees at the meeting."

What are some alternatives to "sparse number of"?

Alternatives include "limited quantity of", "small amount of", or "scarce quantity of" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "sparse number of" or "few number of"?

"Sparse number of" is generally preferred in formal writing as it more precisely conveys the idea of something being thinly distributed or infrequent. "Few number of" is less common and can sound awkward.

What's the difference between "sparse number of" and "scarce number of"?

While both indicate a small quantity, "sparse number of" often implies a distribution across a wider area or time, whereas "scarce number of" emphasizes limited availability.