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Less vs fewer

The choice between 'less' and 'fewer' depends on whether you are referring to countable or uncountable nouns. 'Less' is used with uncountable nouns, while 'fewer' is used with countable nouns.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 775 views

Less

This is correct when referring to uncountable nouns.

Use 'less' when referring to uncountable nouns, such as 'less sugar' or 'less water.'

Examples:

  • I need less sugar in my coffee.
  • She has less money than before.
  • Less frequent undesirable effects include urinary abnormalities predominantly mild or moderate dysuria.
  • Less celebrity stuff, more grandfather...
  • Less emphasis has been put on strengthening competitiveness.
  • Less chance of him being discovered.
  • Less chance of infection from foreign bodies.
  • Wizard Robot and His Less Successful Friend.
  • Less central lawmaking will be Europe's gain.
  • Less intensive cattle farming seems the only real solution.
  • Less terrorism, but threat remains serious - Europol
  • Less CO2 comes out when we're happy and that's better for Earth.
  • - Less talk, more running away.
  • Less ego, more facts, please.
  • Less '47 Chrysler New Yorkers.
  • -Less talk, more pushing.
  • Less people around. It's nighttime.
  • Less room for the gestation to complete.
  • Less, of course, the agreed expenses.
  • Less of the attitude, please.
  • Less 60 for tonight's load knocks it to 33.
  • 'Less aggressive on the brakes than Simon was there.

Alternatives:

  • not as much
  • reduced
  • decreased
  • lower

fewer

This is correct when referring to countable nouns.

Use 'fewer' when referring to countable nouns, such as 'fewer apples' or 'fewer people.'

Examples:

  • I have fewer books than you.
  • There are fewer students in the class.
  • The meaning of FEWER is a smaller number of persons or things. How to use fewer in a sentence. Less vs. Fewer: Usage Guide.
  • 6 days ago ... Views on the morality of a variety of practices are largely stable, though fewer say same-sex relations are morally OK and more say the ...
  • of a smaller number: fewer words and more action. ... (used with a plural verb) a smaller number: Fewer have come than we hoped.
  • DeterminerEdit. fewer (superlative fewest). comparative degree of few; a smaller number. quotations ▽.
  • Jun 15, 2020 ... Economic reasoning and past evidence suggest that this will lead people to have fewer children. The decline in births could be on the order ...
  • Fewer is the comparative form of few. Less and fewer with a noun. We usually use less with uncountable nouns. We use fewer with plural nouns:.
  • Choosing foods that are less calorie dense — meaning you get a larger portion size with a fewer number of calories — can help you lose weight and control ...
  • Jul 5, 2018 ... Americans are having fewer babies. At first, researchers thought the declining fertility rate was because of the recession, ...

Alternatives:

  • not as many
  • reduced in number
  • decreased in quantity
  • lower in count

Related Comparisons

shuttle door vs shuttle doors open doors vs open the doors much-missed vs much missed fewer vs kess cooporate with vs cooporate much fewer vs far fewer

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