tiny in number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tiny in number" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small quantity or a limited amount of something. Example: "The participants in the study were tiny in number, making it difficult to draw significant conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But the emergence of a super-rich strata of society, tiny in number but fabulously wealthy, has created a niche market for whom couture makes perfect sense.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Even then they were tiny in number, amid a country of 237m, but they dominated the headlines with their rhetoric and intimidation tactics.

The Economist

Nonetheless, it's hard to escape the awkward bad-San-Francisco-liberal conclusion that porn, as is, has both positive and negative aspects, and that the latter are neither trivial or tiny in number.

TechCrunch

And while there are reports of Muslim converts turning to terrorism, those who take that route are tiny in number.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Its secret servants of the state remain tiny in numbers and budgets compared with the United States.

The Economist

It was Islamic State, though tiny in numbers, that incredibly fought Assad at least to a draw over the last several years while "moderate, pro-Western" rebel groups were ineffective.

Huffington Post

Around 500 titles were produced and circulated in the 19th century alone, some admittedly tiny in the numbers that were read, but others reached far larger populations, including those like the Western Mail that formed the basis of our current news diet.

BBC

The group of campus critics who swarmed to Weiss's defense — and who are the real target of both of Uyehara's articles — is itself tiny, probably smaller in number than the number of students who have participated in disruptive protests.

The Washington Post

In a direct comparison of protein distributions by immunostaining of fixed egg chambers, AGO1 was detected in tiny foci similar in number and distribution to those detected with AGO1 GFP in live samples (Fig. 3E), while Bruno (Bru; a sponge body component; [54], [55]) was largely non-overlapping and predominantly in the much larger sponge bodies (Fig. 3F,G).

Plosone

New orchids are being created in laboratories or discovered every day, and others exist only in tiny numbers in remote places.

The New Yorker

We take asylum seekers in tiny numbers; in 2013, it was just over 20,000.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tiny in number", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being described as small. For instance, specify "tiny in number of participants" or "tiny in number of available resources".

Common error

Avoid using "tiny in number" when a more specific and quantifiable description is possible. Instead of saying "the errors were tiny in number", quantify them if possible (e.g., "only three errors were found").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tiny in number" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, indicating that the quantity or group being described is very small. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tiny in number" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe something of very small quantity or amount. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While acceptable in both formal and informal writing, alternatives such as "few in number" or "limited in quantity" might be preferred in more formal settings. Remember to be specific about what is "tiny in number" to avoid over-generalization. Despite its correctness, quantifying when possible enhances clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Few in number

Replaces "tiny" with "few", emphasizing the scarcity of the quantity.

Small in number

Uses "small" instead of "tiny", providing a slightly less diminutive connotation.

Limited in quantity

Shifts the focus to "quantity" rather than "number", suitable for uncountable items.

Scarce in number

Emphasizes the rarity or scarcity of the count.

Minimal in quantity

Highlights the extremely low or minimal amount.

A handful of

Uses an idiomatic expression to denote a very small number.

Sparse in attendance

Focuses on the concept of 'attendance' and implies a low number.

A smattering of

Implies a small and scattered amount or number.

Token few

Highlights the symbolic or representative nature of the small number.

Insignificant number

Emphasizes the lack of importance due to the small size of the number.

FAQs

How can I use "tiny in number" in a sentence?

You can use "tiny in number" to describe a group or quantity that is very small. For example, "The number of attendees was "tiny in number", so the event was canceled."

What are some alternatives to "tiny in number"?

Alternatives to "tiny in number" include "few in number", "small in number", or "limited in quantity" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "tiny in number" or "small in number"?

Both "tiny in number" and "small in number" are correct, but "tiny in number" emphasizes a greater degree of smallness.

Is "tiny in number" formal or informal?

"Tiny in number" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, "limited in quantity" may be preferred.