Less vs Fewer

Common Usage Mistakes

When it comes to English grammar, things can be a lot trickier than they seem. There are many similar sounding words that can lead to grammar flops.

LESS VS FEWER

While these words are both opposites of "more," they are not interchangeable.

LESS

• means "not as much."

• Generally, it refers to nouns that are NOT COUNTABLE

• Non-count nouns don't have separate singular and plural forms. ​

• Less is also used before adjectives, i.e. "She is less studious than her sister."​

• Less is used to compare actions: i.e. "She studies less than her sister. "​

FEWER

• means "not as many."

• Generally, it refers to COUNTABLE NOUNS

• Countable nouns usually have separate singular and plural forms.

  singular: apple

  plural: apples​

Language Evolves

• Despite the rule, "less" is more frequently used that "fewer."

• Some exceptions are time, money, and weight.

Customary vs Correct

Money

"Rebecca has less than twenty dollars left in her checking account."

Weight

"Baby pandas weigh less than 200 grams at birth."

Time

While it is not incorrect to use "fewer," we still often use "less" for countable parts of time.

Multiple Choice

We did ... work today than yesterday.

• Less

• Fewer

Multiple Choice

You should learn to spend ... money on stupid things.

• Less

• Fewer

Multiple Choice

Note: Sometimes the noun is implied. In this case, use "less" or "fewer" according to whatever the missing noun is:

He earns ... than his wife.

• Less

• Fewer

Multiple Choice

Try to make ... mistakes when you write.

• Less

• Fewer

Multiple Choice

I would buy that car if it were ... expensive.

• Less

• Fewer

Multiple Choice

Sally has ... pieces of Halloween candy than Tom.

• Less

• Fewer

Multiple Choice

The amount of homework in English class is ... than that in algebra class.

• Less

• Fewer

Multiple Choice

His latest book is ... interesting than his last one.

• Less

• Fewer

Multiple Choice

I want to spend _____ time at school and more time at home.

• fewer
• less

Multiple Choice

My dad said he wants to eat _____ junk food.

• less
• fewer

Multiple Choice

I prefer to use ____ salt on my French fries than my sister does.

• less
• fewer

Multiple Choice

There are _______ murals in Denver than there are in San Francisco.

• fewer

• less

Multiple Choice

Radio disc jockeys play _______ rap songs than they used to.

• less

• fewer

Multiple Choice

Radio disc jockeys play ______rock music than they used to.

• fewer

• less

Multiple Choice

We saw _________ cars by the Grand Canyon than we see every day around Phoenix.

• less

• fewer

Multiple Choice

The students have _______ minutes to eat lunch now that the periods are extended.

• fewer

• less

Multiple Choice

The students have ______ time to eat lunch now that the class periods are extended.

• fewer

• less

Multiple Choice

Suzie has ___________ responsibilities now that her aunt has come to help

• fewer

• less

Multiple Choice

The cook suddenly wished she had added ______ soy sauce to the dish.

• fewer

• less

Multiple Choice

I am worried that _______ than six computers will be set up.

• fewer

• less

Multiple Choice

Jerry wants to spend _____ time at school and more time at home.

• less

• fewer

Multiple Choice

Jennifer later discovered that her roommate had brought _________ textbooks than she had.

• fewer

• less

Multiple Choice

My family goes on _____ vacations than I would like.

• fewer
• less

Multiple Choice

I have ____ minutes and ____ time.

• less, fewer
• fewer, less
• fewer, fewer
• less, less

Multiple Choice

Ms. LaMantia has ridden the Zamboni _____ times than she would have liked.

• fewer
• less

Multiple Choice

Kayla spends ____ time watching Netflix than Kelsey does.

• less
• fewer

Multiple Choice

_____ people raise their hands in class than teachers would like.

• fewer
• less

Multiple Choice

There were _____ clouds in the sky than Haseeb predicted.

• fewer
• less

Multiple Choice

I wish there had been _____ pages to read in Gulliver's Travels. 

• fewer
• less

Multiple Choice

Many would agree that The Grapes of Wrath is a _____ exciting read than The Catcher in the Rye.  

• less
• fewer

Multiple Choice

If I spent ____ time watching Netflix, I would probably do better in school. No thanks.

• less
• fewer