too few hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'too few hours' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something needs to be done but there is not enough time available. For example, "I wish I could have finished this project, but there are too few hours in the day to make it happen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

They grow up with too few hours of devoted parenting.

The New York Times

Too few hours left to do more than scan the books that you know you'd love.

The New Yorker

What we found in that study was that associates were given too few hours per week, every week.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But some Target workers say that means they are offered too few hours to qualify for the company's health plan.

The New York Times

Moreover, they often do not receive health benefits and are scheduled too few hours to earn a living.

Harvard Business Review

Although we knew Catherine had all too few hours left, she was gracious in granting our request.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Prof. Zeynep Ton states that companies can get in a downward spiral where too few labor hours lead to operational problems and lower sales and these reduced sales then become a rationale to reduce labor hours even further.

Wikipedia

Arts students often complain they are not getting their money's worth at university because they have too few contact hours.

The Guardian

In part because I had too few daytime hours to ever finish preparing for class, in part to keep myself awake in the middle of the night, and in part because it seemed to soothe my otherwise very fussy baby, I spent many hours reading outloud from my "Marx Reader" while nursing him and rocking him back to sleep.

The Economist

Work is also not sustainable when jobs provide too few and erratic hours.

The New York Times

Mitchell signed on, too, but a few hours before showtime she called to say that she wasn't going to make it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "too few hours" to describe work assignments, consider the impact on employee well-being and productivity. Providing adequate hours ensures better job satisfaction and performance.

Common error

Avoid using "less hours" instead of "few hours". "Few" is used for countable nouns (like hours), while "less" is used for uncountable nouns (like time or money).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too few hours" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It quantifies the noun (hours) and indicates a deficiency. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "too few hours" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a lack of sufficient time. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. It is most frequently found in news and media sources, but also appears in academic and business writing. When using the phrase, remember that 'few' should be used with countable nouns like 'hours', not 'less'. Alternatives include "insufficient time" and "limited time". Always consider the impact of limited hours when assigning tasks to ensure optimal employee well-being and productivity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not enough time

A more direct and common way to express the same idea.

insufficient time

Replaces "hours" with the more general term "time".

limited time

Emphasizes the restriction on available time.

inadequate time

Highlights that time is not sufficient for a given task.

a shortage of time

Highlights the deficit in time available.

scant hours

Emphasizes how little time is available.

time is lacking

A more formal way to say time is missing.

constrained by time

Focuses on the restriction that time places on an activity.

time-constrained

Adjective form describing something affected by lack of time.

a paucity of hours

Uses more formal language to indicate a small number of hours.

FAQs

How can I use "too few hours" in a sentence?

You can use "too few hours" to describe a situation where there is not enough time to complete a task or activity. For example, "There are "too few hours" in the day to get everything done".

What's a more formal alternative to "too few hours"?

A more formal alternative to "too few hours" is "insufficient time" or "a paucity of hours". These phrases are suitable for academic or professional contexts.

Which is correct: "less hours" or "too few hours"?

"Too few hours" is correct. "Less" is used for uncountable nouns, while "few" is used for countable nouns like "hours".

What can I say instead of "too few hours"?

You can use alternatives like "not enough time", "limited time", or "insufficient time" depending on the context.