they were few

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'they were few' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of people or items. For example, "They had been expecting more people to show up for the meeting, but sadly they were few."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

We were 650,000, they were 40 million.

The New York Times

That year they were 9.

The New York Times

But they were 511 short.

The New York Times

They were a.500 team.

Princeton University

They were 3ft long.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

They were £160.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They were 0 for 4 Sunday.

The New York Times - Sports

(They were 2 for 7 on Thursday).

The New York Times - Sports

After Loss 17 they were 15 1/2 out.

The New York Times

By 450 they were 10 in number.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"They were 40, and we were four.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were few" when you want to emphasize the scarcity or limited number of something, often in contrast to what might have been expected.

Common error

Avoid using "they were few" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "there weren't many" or "only a few" in such scenarios to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were few" primarily functions as a statement of quantity, emphasizing a small number of individuals or items within a specific context. Although Ludwig has no examples for this exact query, the structure implies that 'they' refers to a previously mentioned group.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were few" is grammatically sound but appears to be used infrequently. Ludwig AI did not return any examples for this phrase. It is used to emphasize the scarcity of a previously mentioned entity. While grammatically correct, opting for more common alternatives like "there were only a few" or "not many were" can enhance clarity and naturalness, particularly in informal contexts. Consider the context and intended emphasis when deciding whether to use "they were few".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were only a few

Adds emphasis using "only" and slightly alters sentence structure with "there were".

they were scarce

Replaces "few" with its synonym "scarce".

a small number existed

Replaces "they" with "a small number" and uses "existed" instead of "were".

only a handful were present

Employs "handful" to denote a small quantity and "present" as a synonym for "were".

there weren't many

Expresses the concept using a negative construction.

few in number

Uses a more formal and descriptive phrasing.

they were limited

Focuses on the restriction in number or amount.

a sparse amount was available

Employs "sparse amount" emphasizing the limited quantity and replaces "were" with "was available".

scarcely any existed

Uses "scarcely" to highlight the lack of quantity, replacing "were" with "existed".

not many were to be found

Uses a passive construction to express scarcity.

FAQs

How can I use "they were few" in a sentence?

You can use "they were few" to emphasize a small quantity, such as, "Although many were invited, "they were few" who actually attended".

What's a more common way to say "they were few"?

More common alternatives include "there were only a few" or "not many were".

Is "they were few" formal or informal?

"They were few" leans towards the formal side. In casual settings, simpler alternatives are often preferred.

What is the difference between "they were few" and "there were few"?

"They were few" implies a specific group previously mentioned, whereas "there were few" introduces the concept of scarcity without prior reference. For example "the attendees were expected to be numerous, but "they were few"" vs "there were few options available".