very few time

USAGE SUMMARY

"very few time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an amount that is not much, and is usually used in the comparative form ("I have been late very few times" or "I have seen him only a very few times.").

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

However when LOPs for multiple species are combined into an integrated management plan, very few time windows for implementing prescribed fires remain.

Forest Ecology and Management

Especially, the OFEE method only employs the classical FE solutions at the initial very few time nodes to formulate the POD basis and build the OFEE format so that it does not have repetitive calculations, such as done in references [24 27].

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In practice, only one or a very few time-dependent terms will provide optimal chi2/DOF.

Harvard University

Very few times, you make a decision with your gut.

The New York Times - Sports

Very few times would he go more than that".

The New York Times - Sports

And yet since 1945 nations have gone to war against other nations very few times.

The New Yorker

"This might be one of the very few times that I surface," he offered.

The New York Times - Magazine

"There are very few times where we've had disagreements about anything".

The New York Times - Arts

"There were very few times when the bees could get out of the hives and pollinate.

The New York Times

'That was one of the very few times I ever got a bonus for losing".

The Guardian - Sport

There are very few times you can get players to say this should be the guy".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very few time" to emphasize the scarcity of a time window or opportunity, particularly in contexts where time is a limiting factor.

Common error

Avoid using "very few time" when referring to an amount of time. "Few" is for countable nouns, while "little" is for uncountable nouns like "time". Therefore, use "very little time" when discussing an amount of time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very few time" functions to express a limited availability or scarcity of specific time opportunities. It highlights the restrictive nature of time, as demonstrated in examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "very few time" is grammatically correct and serves to highlight the scarcity of time in specific situations. Ludwig's analysis shows that while the phrase is valid, it's less common than alternatives like "very little time" or "very few times", with the latter being more suitable when referring to countable instances. Understanding the contexts in which to use the phrase and avoiding common errors, such as confusing it with uncountable quantities, is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely

This alternative uses a single adverb to express infrequency.

hardly ever

This alternative uses an adverbial phrase to convey a similar meaning of infrequency.

almost never

This alternative emphasizes the near absence of an occurrence.

seldom

This alternative offers a more formal synonym for "rarely".

infrequently

This alternative is a more formal adverb describing a low frequency.

on rare occasions

This alternative phrase specifies the infrequency as limited occurrences.

scarcely ever

This alternative suggests a minimal frequency of occurrence.

not often

This alternative is a straightforward way to express low frequency.

a small number of instances

This alternative emphasizes the limited count of events.

a handful of times

This alternative uses a more informal expression to indicate a small number of occurrences.

FAQs

How can I properly use "very few time" in a sentence?

While "very few time" is grammatically correct, it's important to use it in contexts where you're emphasizing that opportunities or specific time windows are scarce. As Ludwig AI explains, make sure to consider the surrounding context for optimal clarity.

What's a more common way to express having a limited amount of time?

A more common phrasing is to say "very little time" when you are referring to an overall quantity of time, which is more conventional and readily understood.

Is it more appropriate to use "very few times" instead of "very few time"?

Yes, "very few times" is often more appropriate when referring to occurrences or instances. This phrasing aligns with standard English usage for countable events.

When should I use "very little time" versus "very few times"?

"Very little time" refers to the amount of time available in general. "Very few times" refers to the number of instances something occurs. Choose based on whether you're discussing quantity or frequency.