vanishingly few

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vanishingly few" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a quantity that is extremely small or almost nonexistent. Example: "In the vast universe, the number of habitable planets is vanishingly few."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

I'd imagine it's vanishingly few.

The Guardian - Opinion

Vanishingly few of them will ever argue before the justices.

The New York Times

Alas, vanishingly few students from the lowest echelons of society are among the intake.

The Economist

There have been more than 500 challenges to gun laws and gun prosecutions since Heller was decided, and vanishingly few of them have succeeded.

The New York Times

Vanishingly few young people take heroin, for example; they tend to opt for new "designer" drugs that are popular in nightclubs.

The Economist

But it is now clear that Mr Blair committed British forces to it with vanishingly few reassurances from George Bush about how that country was to be reconstructed.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

In truth, they are vanishingly rare: fewer than 1 per cent of cases, according to an authoritative study by the Crown Prosecution Service published this year, and certainly no higher than for any other crime.

Independent

The margin between champions and also-rans can be vanishingly fine: a few inches in height, a few words from a gifted coach.

The New Yorker

But the sums are vanishingly small – a few widgets of an aircraft carrier, as one arts person said acidly – while arts investment brings rich returns, in cash and in cultural wealth.

The Guardian - Opinion

But families with more than one FOP member are vanishingly rare--few sufferers have children, and most develop the disease because of a random mutation.

Science Magazine

Thrun noted that the number of people with the requisite AI expertise to build self-driving cars is still "vanishingly small," with as few as 10,000 people the whole world over qualified to do this kind of engineering work.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vanishingly few" to emphasize the extreme scarcity of something, often to highlight a surprising or concerning lack.

Common error

Avoid using "vanishingly few" in casual conversation or informal writing. Its formal tone may sound unnatural or pretentious in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vanishingly few" functions as a determiner, specifically quantifying a noun to indicate an extremely small number or amount. As Ludwig indicates, it is a correct and usable expression in written English. It intensifies the concept of scarcity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Arts

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vanishingly few" is a phrase used to describe an extremely small quantity, almost to the point of non-existence. Ludwig confirms it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's commonly found in news, media, and scientific contexts. While it effectively emphasizes scarcity, it's best reserved for formal or neutral settings. Alternatives like "almost none" or "very few" may be more suitable for informal communication. The phrase's strength lies in its ability to underscore a significant lack or rarity, making it a valuable tool for precise and impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost none

Directly indicates a near-zero quantity, closely mirroring the original phrase.

very few

A simpler and more common way to express a small quantity, slightly less emphatic than "vanishingly few".

hardly any

Indicates a scarcity, similar in impact but less formal than the original phrase.

scarcely any

Emphasizes the rarity or infrequency, close in meaning but slightly more literary.

virtually none

Highlights that the quantity is so small it's practically nonexistent, adding a touch of hyperbole.

a negligible number

Focuses on the insignificance of the quantity, fitting well in analytical contexts.

an infinitesimal amount

Draws attention to the extremely small size, suitable for technical or precise contexts.

a mere handful

Suggests a count so low it can be contained in one hand, more concrete and visual.

a paucity

Highlights the deficiency or lack, taking a more formal and literary approach.

a sprinkling

Implies a very sparse distribution or small presence, fitting contexts of scattering or occurrence.

FAQs

How do you use "vanishingly few" in a sentence?

The phrase "vanishingly few" is used to describe a quantity so small it's nearly nonexistent. For example: "Vanishingly few students chose to study Latin."

What's a good alternative to "vanishingly few"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "almost none", "very few", or "hardly any".

Is it appropriate to use "vanishingly few" in formal writing?

Yes, "vanishingly few" is suitable for formal writing when you want to emphasize the extreme scarcity of something. It adds a layer of sophistication to your language.

What is the difference between "vanishingly few" and "few"?

"Few" indicates a small quantity, while "vanishingly few" emphasizes that the quantity is so small as to be almost nonexistent. The addition of "vanishingly" heightens the sense of scarcity.