Fewer or Less: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: The choice between fewer and less depends on whether you are counting individual items or measuring a bulk amount. Use fewer for things you can count, like coins or cars. Use less for abstract quantities or mass nouns, like water or time.
The Short Answer
Use fewer for countable things and less for uncountable amounts. This distinction is the standard rule in formal English writing and speech.
People often confuse these words because they sound similar and both indicate a smaller quantity. Casual speech frequently ignores the rule, leading to widespread uncertainty about proper usage.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| fewer | Correct | referring to countable nouns |
| less | Correct | referring to uncountable nouns |
| fewer | Adjective | modifying plural nouns |
| less | Adjective | modifying singular mass nouns |
Correct Example Sentences
- We have fewer apples left than we did yesterday.
- Please add less sugar to the coffee mixture.
- There are fewer students in class today.
- I have less time to finish the project.
- Buy fewer items to save money on shipping.
- He has less patience for rude behavior.
- We need fewer forks for the dinner party.
- She spent less money on clothes this month.
- There are fewer errors in the final draft.
- Use less force when closing the door gently.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- There are less people in the room now.
- There are fewer people in the room now.
- I have fewer money in my wallet.
- I have less money in my wallet.
- We need less eggs for the cake.
- We need fewer eggs for the cake.
- He has fewer experience than his peers.
- He has less experience than his peers.
- There is less traffic on this road.
- There is less traffic on this road.
- You should eat less vegetables daily.
- You should eat fewer vegetables daily.
A Quick Test You Can Use
Ask yourself if you can place a number directly before the noun. If you can count them individually, choose fewer. If the noun represents a mass or concept that cannot be counted one by one, choose less instead.
Related Word Pairs
- Affect vs Effect
- Affect is usually a verb; effect is usually a noun.
- Then vs Than
- Use then for time sequences and than for comparisons.
- Your vs Youre
- Use your for possession and you are for the pronoun plus verb.
- Its vs Its
- Use its for possession and it is for the contraction.
- Lose vs Loose
- Use lose for misplacing and loose for not tight.
More Example Sentences
- There is less noise in the library than in the cafeteria.
- The grocery store has fewer varieties of exotic fruits this season.
- You should drink less soda to improve your overall health.
- We need fewer volunteers to staff the morning shift.
- There is less room in the trunk for additional luggage.
- The company hired fewer employees than expected this quarter.
- She has less interest in reading fiction than nonfiction.
- The bowl contains fewer cookies than it did this morning.
- Use less butter when baking the muffins for a healthier treat.
- There are fewer cars parked in the lot on weekends.
Quick Practice
We have time to finish the race.
less
The jar holds marbles than the bucket.
fewer
Please add salt to the soup recipe.
less
There are chairs available for the guests.
fewer
He shows respect for the rules.
less
I bought pairs of shoes this year.
fewer
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use less with numbers?
Yes, you can use less with numbers when referring to money, distance, or weight as a collective amount rather than individual units.
Is fewer always correct for people?
Yes, because people are countable individuals. You should always use fewer when referring to a specific number of humans in a group.
Why do signs say ten items or less?
Signs often use less for brevity and rhythm, but strictly speaking, fewer is grammatically correct because items are countable units.
Does this rule apply to percentages?
It depends on context. If the percentage refers to countable items, use fewer. If it refers to a mass or uncountable quantity, use less.
