will be few

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "will be few" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that the number of something is expected to be small or limited in the future. Example: "In the upcoming months, opportunities for advancement will be few due to budget constraints."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

There will be few surprises.

The Economist

There will be few survivors.

The Guardian - Sport

He knows his minutes will be few.

The New York Times - Sports

There will be few surprises for either team this time.

The New York Times - Sports

There will be few choruses so enormous this year.

The Guardian - Music

There will be few, of course, rushing to Goodwin's defence.

The Guardian - Business

Unfortunately, there will be few voices speaking up for them.

The New York Times

He believes there will be few "freak" victories for independents, but that many will be disappointed.

The Economist

Because Paribas has no branch network, there will be few compulsory redundancies at home.

The Economist

There will be few invitations to Republican celebrations like the Lincoln Day dinners.

The New York Times

In my opinion, there will be few policy options, and none qualifies as a silver bullet.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "will be few", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is expected to be limited or scarce. This helps maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "will be few" when referring to uncountable nouns. Instead, use "will be little" or "will be a small amount of" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will be few" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, indicating a limited quantity or number. It predicts a scarcity of something, as seen in Ludwig's examples where opportunities, options, and resources are expected to be limited.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "will be few" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a limited quantity or scarcity in the future. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in News & Media. While generally neutral, more formal alternatives like "will be limited" or "will be scarce" may be preferable in academic or professional contexts. Ensure correct usage by applying it to countable nouns and maintaining clarity regarding what is expected to be scarce. Overall, "will be few" is a reliable way to convey limitations and set expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will be scarce

Replaces "few" with "scarce" to emphasize the limited availability.

will be limited

Uses "limited" instead of "few" to convey a restricted amount.

will be a small number

Expresses the idea using a more descriptive phrase.

will be in short supply

Highlights the inadequacy of the quantity available.

will be at a minimum

Focuses on the lowest possible quantity.

will be negligible

Implies that the number is so small as to be insignificant.

will be restricted

Suggests that the quantity is deliberately controlled or limited.

will be infrequent

Indicates that occurrences will not happen often.

will be sparse

Suggests that the distribution is thin or scattered.

will be wanting

Expresses a lack or deficiency in the required amount.

FAQs

How can I use "will be few" in a sentence?

Use "will be few" to indicate that the number of something is expected to be small or limited. For example, "There "will be few opportunities" for advancement this year."

What's a more formal alternative to "will be few"?

In formal contexts, consider using "will be limited" or "will be scarce" as alternatives to "will be few" to convey a similar meaning with a more refined tone.

Is it correct to say "there will be few" or "there will be a few"?

"There will be few" indicates a small number, often implying a negative connotation. "There will be a few" suggests a small number with a more neutral or slightly positive connotation. The choice depends on the intended meaning and context.

What's the difference between "will be few" and "will be less"?

"Will be few" is used with countable nouns (e.g., "There "will be few options""). "Will be less" is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., "There "will be less time""). Using the correct form ensures grammatical accuracy.