Friday, September 14, 2012

Could somebody tell me when to use 'fewer' and 'less'?


Students often don’t know when to use less and when to use fewer in a sentence. Here are how to get them right.

Use fewer if you’re referring to people or things in the plural (e.g. houses, dogs, students, children). For example:




  • People these days are buying fewer books.
  • Fewer students are opting to study science-related subjects.
  • Fewer than thirty children each year develop obesity.

Use less when you’re referring to something that can’t be counted (non countable) or doesn’t have a plural form (e.g. money, air, time, music, rain). For example:

  • It’s a better job but they pay you less money.
  • People want to spend less time in traffic jams.
  • Ironically, when I’m on tour, I listen to less music.



Less is also used with numbers when they are on their own and with expressions of measurement or time, e.g.:


  • Their marriage lasted less than two years.
  • Ramayana is less than three miles away from Unigraha.

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