too few of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "too few of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an insufficient quantity of something, often followed by a noun phrase. Example: "There are too few of us to make a significant impact on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Too few of those companies are European.

The New York Times

And too few of us receive it.

The Guardian - Opinion

And there are far too few of them.

The New York Times

Too few of those shots were on target, however.

The Guardian - Sport

But there are too few of these advances.

The Guardian

But too few of them convey evidence of Austen's editorial scrutiny.

The New York Times

A fair point, but what if there are too few of those young Englishmen being developed?

Independent

The startup nation not only has too few of them, it also has the wrong sort.

The Economist

Too few of them and the priorities they highlight overshadow other worthy goals.

The Economist

"Some scenes, though there are too few of them, are kind of fun.

The New York Times - Arts

The works looked stylistically too familiar and there were too few of them.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "too few of", ensure the noun following "of" is plural or non-countable. For example, "too few of the students" or "too few of the resources".

Common error

Avoid using "too few of" with singular nouns. It's incorrect to say "too few of the student"; instead, use "too few of the students" or rephrase using "not enough of the student population".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too few of" functions as a determiner, specifically indicating an insufficient quantity or number. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it commonly modifies a noun phrase, highlighting a deficit. The phrase adheres to standard English grammar, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

25%

Huffington Post

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

New Yorker

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "too few of" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that there is an insufficient quantity or number of something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage across diverse sources, including news media, scientific publications, and general writing. When using "too few of", ensure it's followed by a plural or non-countable noun and be mindful of contexts where simpler alternatives like "not enough of" might be more appropriate. Its widespread use and clear meaning make it a valuable tool for expressing deficiency or lack.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not enough of

Direct synonym, replacing "too few" with "not enough" for simpler phrasing.

insufficient amount of

More formal, emphasizes the inadequacy of the quantity.

a scarcity of

Highlights the limited availability of something.

a shortage of

Similar to "scarcity", but often implies a temporary lack.

lacking in

Focuses on the absence or deficiency of something.

in short supply of

Indicates that something is not readily available.

a dearth of

More literary and formal, suggesting a severe lack.

limited quantity of

Emphasizes the restricted amount of something available.

a trickle of

Suggests a very small and insufficient flow or amount.

underabundance of

Highlights the fact that there is a non sufficient quantity.

FAQs

How do I use "too few of" in a sentence?

Use "too few of" to indicate that there is an insufficient quantity of something. For example, "There are "too few of" qualified applicants for the job".

What's a simpler way to say "too few of"?

A simpler alternative to "too few of" is "not enough of". For example, instead of saying "Too few of the tickets were sold", you can say "Not enough of the tickets were sold".

Is it ever correct to say "too few of a"?

While uncommon, "too few of a" can be used to emphasize the lack of even a single instance within a category. However, it's often clearer to rephrase the sentence for better readability. For example, instead of "Too few of a response was received", consider "Hardly any response was received".

What is the difference between "too few of" and "very few"?

"Too few of" emphasizes the insufficiency of the quantity, while "very few" simply indicates a small number. For example, "Too few of the participants completed the survey, so the results are inconclusive" highlights the impact of the low participation rate. Saying "Very few participants completed the survey" simply states the number was small.