TextRanch

The best way to perfect your writing.

Discover why 1,062,726 users count on TextRanch to get their English corrected!

1. Input your text below.
2. Get it corrected in a few minutes by our editors.
3. Improve your English!

One of our experts will correct your English.

Our experts

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 • 781 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

What Our Customers Are Saying

Our customers love us! We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283,125 votes.
Also check out our 2,100+ reviews on TrustPilot (4.9TextRanch on TrustPilot).

Why choose TextRanch?

Lowest prices
Up to 50% lower than other online editing sites.

Fastest Times
Our team of editors is working for you 24/7.

Qualified Editors
Native English experts for UK or US English.

Top Customer Service
We are here to help. Satisfaction guaranteed!