to mention but a few

USAGE SUMMARY

"to mention but a few" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that a list is incomplete, and that there may be other items that could be included in the list. For example, "We discussed a lot of potential options, including moving to a new city, getting a new job, and taking a vacation, to mention but a few."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

The shame of blood leaking through your skirt, boys calling you names, to mention but a few, makes you hate being a young healthy woman".

Independent

Below the surface, designer fish played hide and seek in the corals: angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, blueheads, snappers, baby damsels and a fleeing turtle, to mention but a few.

The Guardian - Travel

And in our times, there are many composers – Kurtag, Holloway, Holliger, Rihm to mention but a few – who have paid tribute to him in countless works.

The Guardian - Music

There's so many to mention but a few we'd like to also recommend are AndAllThat.co.uk – a website for history sixth formers and teachers – and Alex Ford (@apf102) who is a history teacher with an American West obsession.

The Guardian

Other menaces have been botrytis, and downy and powdery mildew, leaf spot, Sclerotinia (or white mould), fusarium wilt in tomatoes and blossom end rot in tomatoes, and potatoes to mention but a few.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Laurette Taylor, Ina Claire, Luther Adler, Gertie Lawrence, and the Barrymores, to mention but a few will appear personally and larger than life at Litchfield, Westpo Amherst, Dennis, Maplewood, and Pawling.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

In France and England new and varied styles became available chintz patterns, satin grounds, and stripes, to mention but a few and technical advances were making wallpaper more widely accessible.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Many plants are poisonous to donkeys, the list is too long to mention here but a few of the most dangerous are listed below: fresh or dried ragwort yew acorns and oak leaves sycamore or red maple leaves.

WikiHow

Too numerous to mention but to name a few Gerhard Richter, Pat Steir, Tony Magar, Anselm Keifer,... Music (mostly classical, jazz and world music) philosophy, mysticism, literature and theater.

Huffington Post

The driving forces behind vehicle automation are often attributed to comfort, convenience, safety, and better use of time, to mention just a few, but there are also potential problems.

European Transport Research Review

Highly regarded by many critics, Gorky enjoyed one-man shows at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1951, at the Tate Gallery, London in 1965, and at the Solomon R. Guggenheim in 1981, to mention a few, but never achieved world fame.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider alternatives like "including but not limited to" for a more explicit statement of non-exhaustiveness.

Common error

Avoid using "to mention but a few" in contexts where only a couple of examples are relevant. Shorter alternatives like "such as" or "for example" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to mention but a few" serves as an introductory element in a sentence. It indicates that the examples provided are not exhaustive, suggesting further unmentioned elements. According to Ludwig, this is a perfectly acceptable phrase, a confirmation also reflected in the numerous examples identified.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

34%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to mention but a few" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for signaling an incomplete list of examples. Ludwig confirms its acceptability in English writing. While it's most common in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for varied audiences. When using this phrase, ensure that the context indeed implies further unlisted elements, and consider more concise alternatives if the list is short and definitive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

including but not limited to

More formal and comprehensive, emphasizing that the list is explicitly not exhaustive.

to name a few examples

Replaces "mention" with "name" and explicitly states "examples", adding clarity but also length.

to illustrate a few

Emphasizes the illustrative nature of the examples.

among others

More concise and informal, suitable for shorter lists or less formal contexts.

by way of example

More formal and emphasizes the illustrative purpose.

as an illustration

Similar to "for example" but places more emphasis on the examples as clarifying points.

for example

Introduces specific instances but lacks the implication of an incomplete list.

such as

Introduces examples without directly stating that the list is partial.

these include

Directly introduces examples but does not explicitly imply the list is incomplete.

a couple of examples being

Informal and indicates a very short list.

FAQs

How can I use "to mention but a few" in a sentence?

Use "to mention but a few" after listing some examples to indicate that the list is not exhaustive. For example, "The project requires skills in data analysis, project management, and communication, "to mention but a few"."

What's a more formal alternative to "to mention but a few"?

A more formal alternative is "including but not limited to". It explicitly states that the list is not exhaustive. For instance, "The report covers various aspects, including but not limited to, financial performance, market trends, and operational efficiency."

Is it grammatically correct to say "to mention but a few"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It's a common phrase used to introduce examples while implying that there are others not mentioned.

Which is correct: "to mention a few" or "to mention but a few"?

Both are correct, but "to mention but a few" emphasizes that the list provided is definitely incomplete. "To mention a few" is also valid, but slightly less emphatic in implying a longer, unlisted set of examples.