Less bookshops vs Few bookshops

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Less bookshops' is used when referring to an uncountable noun like 'less water,' while 'few bookshops' is used with countable nouns like 'few books.'

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 570 views

Less bookshops

This phrase is correct when referring to an uncountable noun like 'less water.'

Use 'less bookshops' when talking about a quantity of bookshops that cannot be counted individually.

Examples:

There is less water in the bottle.
We have less time to finish the project.
She has less money than her sister.
There are less bookshops in this area.
I need less sugar in my coffee.

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She goes to old bookshops and buys second-hand books.
Give me a list of bookshops that specialize in antique books.
And the consequences of this problem make themselves felt in bookshops.
It is highly likely that diversity in the supply of bookshops will suffer.
I would say that this applies not only to books but also to small bookshops.
Maybe other boys who work in bookshops do what they want.
You can pick them up in any of the speciality bookshops around here.
Fixed price systems shall provide for discounts for certain user groups, for example libraries, bookshops, educational establishments or subscribers.
Price fixing also provides consumers with a more extensive supply network, as it enables a larger number of bookshops to survive in the market.
Finally, many scientific studies fear that the number of bookshops would drop from 4000 to just 800 in the event of this regulation being abolished.
So the complaints were coming from academic circles too, as well as from other bookshops.
Then too we are told that, without book price fixing, a lot of smaller bookshops will go under.
I should like to continue to find quality books in the bookshops and not only paperback best-sellers.
All I made on the deal was the price of a tram ticket, and the thrill of seeing my work in bookshops.
However, the restrictions are imposed out by a distributor, OverDrive, who is also distributing e-books for the Waterstones and WH Smith bookshops.
They have added to the list of potential competitors a number of bookshops which meet, even on an occasional basis, orders from foreign booksellers.
Among CELF's customers are numerous small bookshops, whose activity does not always allow modern international business resources to be used.
It is clear from the documents supplied that, when it was set up, CELF served bookshops only.
The disputed mechanism was introduced to encourage operators to become involved in the market, so that all orders for French-language books from bookshops in non-French-speaking areas could be met.
This ensured that French-language books could reach all bookshops, including the smallest in far-off countries, even if they only needed a few books, often published by different publishers.

Alternatives:

fewer bookshops
a smaller number of bookshops
not as many bookshops
a reduced number of bookshops
a diminished number of bookshops

Few bookshops

This phrase is correct when referring to countable nouns like 'few books.'

Use 'few bookshops' when talking about a small number of bookshops that can be counted individually.