“Fewer” vs. “Less”: What’s the Difference?
Jul 3, 2023
Engram
The difference between “fewer” and “less”
- "Fewer" is used when referring to a number of things that can be counted, while "less" refers to a quantity that cannot be counted.
- "Fewer" is paired with plural nouns, while "less" is paired with singular uncountable nouns.
- "Less" can also be used to compare two things for being smaller in amount, while "fewer" cannot be used in this context.
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What is the definition of “fewer” and “less”?
Fewer
- "Fewer" is used to refer to a smaller number of countable items, objects, or people.
- It is usually used when the number can be counted and measured.
- It is paired with the plural form of the noun it modifies.
Less
- "Less" is used to refer to an amount or a quantity that is not countable.
- It is usually used when the quantity cannot be measured in finite numbers.
- It is paired with the singular form of the noun it modifies.
Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?
“Less” is the more popular variant on the web.
Fewer
1,620,000,000 results on the web
Examples
- The new policy has resulted in fewer complaints from customers.
- We need to use fewer disposable products to reduce our waste.
- I have fewer friends now that I've moved to a new city.
More popular
Less
6,380,000,000 results on the web
Examples
- Please use less salt on your food; it's not healthy.
- The teacher gave us less homework than usual this week.
- In the winter, the plants get less daylight than in the summer.
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