this few

USAGE SUMMARY

"this few" is not correct and usable in written English.
You would use "these few" as "these" is the plural of "this". For example: "These few sentences provide a glimpse into the life of the author."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

WHO DID THIS pic.twitter.com/9KxjsiHYts.

Huffington Post

Try this 600ml bottle.

Independent

This: 2011: Royal Wedding National Bank Holidayy.

Independent

This 60 yr.

The New Yorker

WHO said this?1.

The Economist

This #Emergency2012 too shall pass.

The New York Times

Forget all this 3D nonsense.

The New York Times

This 221-mile segment returned 32.5 m.p.g.

The New York Times

Still, this 11-interception slump is alarming.

The New York Times

"Is this 24-karat gold?" she asked.

The New York Times

It started to do this 2….

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "these few" instead of "this few" when referring to a plural noun. The determiner must agree in number with the noun it modifies.

Common error

Avoid using "this" with plural nouns. "This" is singular; use "these" to ensure grammatical correctness when referring to multiple items.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this few" functions as a determiner phrase, attempting to specify a quantity. However, it's grammatically incorrect because "this" is singular and "few" implies plurality. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is not correct.

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 "this few" is grammatically incorrect. "This" is a singular determiner, while "few" implies a plural quantity. The correct alternative is "these few". Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is not considered standard English. Always ensure the determiner agrees in number with the noun it modifies. When referring to a small quantity, alternative phrases like "only a few" or "a small number of" may also be suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

these few

Changes the determiner to the plural form to agree with the plural noun.

a few of these

Replaces the determiner with a more common and grammatically sound expression.

only a few

Adds "only" to emphasize the limited quantity.

just a few

Uses "just" to highlight the small number.

a small number of

Replaces the phrase with a more formal expression.

not many

Expresses the concept using negation.

several

Uses a single word to indicate more than two, but not a large amount.

a handful of

Employs a more figurative expression to denote a small quantity.

limited number of

Rephrases to emphasize the restriction in quantity.

a scattering of

Implies an even smaller and more dispersed quantity.

FAQs

Why is "this few" considered grammatically incorrect?

The word "this" is a singular determiner, while "few" implies a plural quantity. Therefore, the correct phrase to use is "these few", where "these" is the plural form of "this".

When should I use "these few" instead of "this few"?

Always use "these few" when referring to a small number of countable items. "This few" is not grammatically correct.

Are there alternatives to using "these few"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "only a few", "just a few", or "a small number of", depending on the context.

Is "this few" ever acceptable in any context?

No, "this few" is generally not considered acceptable in standard English. It is always preferable to use "these few" or another alternative phrase.