only a few of them vs only few of them

Both "only a few of them" and "only few of them" are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "Only a few of them" is more commonly used and implies a small number of something, while "only few of them" is less common and emphasizes the scarcity or lack of something.

Last updated: April 13, 2024 • 264 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"only a few of them"

This phrase is used to indicate a small number or proportion of a group. It implies that there are not many of the specified item.

Examples:

Only a few of them were able to solve the puzzle.
I have only a few of them left in stock.

Show examples from the web [+]

320 likes, 8 comments - Aurora McCausland (@auroramccausland) on Instagram: "and this is only a few of them #adhd #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth ...
On Sale Products shows only a few of them. Resolved iolva. (@iolva). 1 year, 7 months ago. Hi,. What can I do to show all the products that are on sale, ...
Oct 7, 2019 ... ... a quarter of all the known bees from the continental U.S. and only a few of them look like the ones that come to mind for most people.
Click here to get an answer to your question ✍️ When a gold sheet is bombarded by a beam of alpha - particles, only a few of them get deflected whereas ...
Chapter 2. Types of Floods and Floodplains. Chapter Overview. There are several different types of floods. Most communities experience only a few of them.
Nov 8, 2012 ... Although there have been many papers about the determination of methylamine, only a few of them involved cigar …
Nov 7, 2019 ... Military offers many options; these are only a few of them. Jim (left) and four of his buddies from his military days still get together ...
May 14, 2014 ... ... a fondness for Division II, there are about 300 member schools– and positions are available at only a few of them at any given moment.

Alternatives:

only a couple of them
only a handful of them
only a small number of them
only a limited number of them
only a select few of them

This phrase is correct but less common in English.

"only few of them"

This phrase is used to emphasize the scarcity or lack of something. It suggests that there are not many of the specified item available.

Examples:

Only few of them managed to pass the exam.
There are only few of them who can speak fluent French.

Show examples from the web [+]

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry — 'All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.'
Le Petit Prince Patisserie - Westbourne, Bournemouth Picture: All grown-ups were once children..but only few of them remember it.
Apr 6, 2020 - “All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry The Little Prince by Barulina.
Jan 6, 2010 ... Of >450 quantified proteins, approximately 50 were differentially distributed between the populations, with only few of them being specific ...
Nov 18, 2015 ... All grown-ups were once children… but only few of them remember it. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other.
Jan 10, 2020 ... Scale X-Axis Labels to show only few of them instead of all present in data set. #421. Open. hanuk25 opened this issue on Jan 10, ...

Alternatives:

only a small number of them
only a handful of them
only a limited number of them
only a select few of them
only a couple of them

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only a few of them vs only few of them

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