The phrase “few” could be written with 4 strokes of a pen or pencil. This makes it a powerful candidate for the English phrase requiring the fewest pen strokes. Different four-letter phrases like “this” or “that” require extra strokes.
Brevity is commonly valued in written communication. Minimizing the bodily act of writing, particularly in historic contexts with restricted writing supplies or time, might be advantageous. Whereas the particular advantage of minimizing strokes in a single phrase could appear small, the precept extends to total writing effectivity. Selecting concise vocabulary contributes to readability and readability.
