"just under" vs "fewer than"

Question

"just under" vs "fewer than"

The phrases 'fewer than' and 'just under' are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes. 'Fewer than' is used to indicate a smaller quantity or number, while 'just under' is used to indicate a quantity or number that is slightly less than a specific amount. They are used in different contexts and cannot be interchanged.

Last Updated: April 04, 2024

Use 'just under' when you want to convey that the quantity or number is very close to but slightly less than a specific amount. For example, 'The temperature is just under 70 degrees.'

Examples:

The cost is just under $50.
She arrived just under the deadline.
The project is just under budget.
The store is just under two miles away.
His time was just under two hours in the race.

Alternatives:

slightly less than
a tad under
nearly
almost
close to but less than

Use 'fewer than' when you want to express that the quantity or number is smaller than a specific amount. For example, 'There are fewer than ten apples in the basket.'

Examples:

There are fewer than 50 people attending the event.
She has fewer than five minutes to finish the task.
Fewer than half of the students passed the exam.
The store has fewer than ten items on sale.
There are fewer than three days left until the deadline.

Alternatives:

less than
not as many as
below
under
short of

Answer 1

just under

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a quantity or number that is slightly less than a specific amount.

Answer 2

fewer than

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a smaller quantity or number.