Published on
9 December 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
7 November 2024.
Few is a word meaning ‘not many’ or ‘a small number of’. It’s used to refer to a nonspecific quantity of countable nouns (e.g., ‘few books’). Depending on how it’s used, ‘few’ can be grammatically classified as a determiner, adjective, noun, or indefinite pronoun.
Few doesn’t refer to a specific number, and its correct use depends on context. For example, if you’re discussing something there are millions of, ‘few’ could reasonably be used to refer to several hundred. If you’re discussing something there are forty of, ‘few’ could be used to refer to three or four.
Examples: Few in a sentenceVery few people have been to the South Pole.
Few bank employees have access to the vault.
My coworkers and I touch base a few times each week.
The restaurant has quite a few vegetarian options.
NoteIn some contexts, such as academic writing, few may be considered too vague, and you may need to use a more precise alternative.
Few patients reported negative side effects.
Three patients reported negative side effects.
A Scribbr Grammar Check can help ensure you use words like ‘few’ correctly in your writing.
Published on
9 December 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
25 September 2023.
A present participle is a word derived from a verb that can be used as an adjective and to form the continuous verb tenses. It is one of two types of participles, along with past participles.
Published on
3 December 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
25 September 2023.
A past participle is a word derived from a verb that can be used as an adjective, to form perfect verb tenses, and to form the passive voice. It is one of two types of participles, along with present participles.
The past participles of regular verbs are usually formed by adding the suffix ‘-ed’ (e.g., ‘learn’ becomes ‘learned’).
The past participles of irregular verbs have numerous endings like ‘-en’, ‘-n’, ‘-ne’, and ‘-t’ (e.g., ‘kneel’ becomes ‘knelt‘).
Examples: Past participles in a sentenceThe children played with the excited dog.
Published on
3 December 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
14 March 2023.
Modelling and modeling are two different spellings of the present participle of the verb ‘model’ (and the identical gerund) used to mean ‘display by wearing or posing’ or to refer to the act of creating a representation or imitation of something.
The spelling tends to vary based on whether you’re using UK or US English:
In UK English, ‘modelling’ (double ‘l’) is standard, but ‘modeling’ (one ‘l’) is acceptable.
In US English, ‘modeling’ (one ‘l’) is correct.
Examples: Modelling and modeling in a sentenceAriana is modelling/modeling for a new fashion company.
Modelling/modelingauditions will be held in the local theater.
Isla’s research involves computational modelling/modeling.
Published on
1 December 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
8 October 2024.
Sense is a verb meaning ‘feel’ and a noun meaning ‘good judgement’, ‘awareness’, ‘vague impression’, and ‘particular meaning’. It can also be used to refer to one of the five sensory faculties (i.e., sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing).
People sometimes mistakenly write ‘sence’ instead of sense, but it’s wrong and should be avoided. While some words with a similar pronunciation are spelled with a ‘c’ (e.g., ‘fence’), others are always spelled with an ‘s’ (e.g., ‘tense’); sense belongs to the latter group.
Examples: Sense and sence in a sentence
I can sence that something is wrong.
I can sense that something is wrong.
Paul has no common sence.
Paul has no common sense.
Scribbr’s Free Grammar Checker can help make sure you’re using words like ‘sense’ correctly in your writing.
NoteThe words ‘past’ and ‘present’ do not indicate the specific tenses in which participles are used. Both past participles and present participles can be used in the past, present, and future tense. And both are commonly used as adjectives.
Published on
25 November 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
8 October 2024.
Nowadays is an adverb meaning ‘at present’ or ‘in comparison with a past time’.
‘Now a days’, written with spaces, is sometimes used instead of nowadays. However, this is not correct and should be avoided. Other variants such as ‘now-a-days’, ‘now days’, ‘nowdays’, and ‘nowaday’ are also wrong.
Examples: Now a days and nowadays in a sentence
Now a days, many people work from home.
Nowadays, many people work from home.
April used to work for a large firm, but now a days she runs a small legal practice.
April used to work for a large firm, but nowadays she runs a small legal practice.
Scribbr’s Free Grammar Checker can help make sure you’re using words like ‘nowadays’ correctly in your writing.
Published on
19 November 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
14 March 2023.
Beck and call is part of the expression ‘at someone’s beck and call’, meaning ‘ready to do whatever someone asks’.
‘Beckon call’ is sometimes used instead of beck and call, but it’s incorrect and should be avoided.
Examples: Beck and call and beckon call in a sentence
Rose is at the beckon call of her boss.
Rose is at the beck and call of her boss.
I’m not at your beckon call.
I’m not at your beck and call.
NoteWhile the nounbeck is closely related to the verbbeckon, they don’t mean the same thing and can’t be used interchangeably. Beck is quite rarely used outside of this expression in modern English.
Published on
19 November 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
8 October 2024.
Gist is a noun meaning ‘essence’ or ‘main idea’. It’s always preceded by the definite article ‘the’ (you can’t say ‘a gist’). In legal contexts, gist is used to refer to the grounds of a legal action.
‘Jist’ is sometimes mistakenly used instead of gist. However, ‘jist’ is not a real word and should be avoided.
Examples: Jist and gist in a sentence
I got the jist of the lecture.
I got the gist of the lecture.
What is the jist of the book?
What is the gist of the book?
A Scribbr Grammar Check can help make sure you’re using words like ‘gist’ correctly in your writing.
