Fewer or Less - Common Grammar Mistake

'Fewer' and 'less' are commonly confused words in English grammar. Understanding the difference between 'fewer' and 'less' is important to use them correctly in written and spoken English.

'Fewer' is used when referring to countable nouns, while 'less' is used when referring to uncountable nouns.

Let's take a closer look at the meanings and usage of 'fewer' and 'less'.

'Fewer''Less'
The word 'fewer' is used to indicate a smaller number or quantity of countable nouns.The word 'less' is used to indicate a smaller amount or degree of uncountable nouns.
  • I ate fewer apples than you did. (referring to countable nouns: apples)
  • There are fewer people in the room today. (referring to countable nouns: people)
  • I drank less water than you did. (referring to uncountable noun: water)
  • There is less sugar in this drink. (referring to uncountable noun: sugar)

To remember the difference between 'fewer' and 'less', it can be helpful to remember that 'fewer' is used with countable nouns, which are things that can be counted, while 'less' is used with uncountable nouns, which are things that cannot be counted.

Here are some examples of correct usage:

  • There were fewer students in the class today. (referring to countable nouns: students)
  • I have less money than you. (referring to uncountable noun: money)
  • She bought fewer books this month. (referring to countable nouns: books)
  • We need less time to complete the task. (referring to uncountable noun: time)

Remembering the correct usage of 'fewer' and 'less' will improve your grammar and communication skills.