Grammar Guidelines: Fewer or Much less
by Brilliant in Grammar Tips 0
grammar rules fewer or lessIt’s a battle between words: fewer or less. Are they interchangeable? Do these phrases have different meanings? How can we use them correctly?
Many individuals don’t realize that these two words don't share the same meaning and subsequently cannot be used interchangeably. In consequence, both fewer and fewer are sometimes used incorrectly.
The difference may be subtle but it surely’s vital and remarkably straightforward to remember. Let’s see what Dictionary.com has to say about these two words:
fewer: adjective 1. of a smaller quantity: fewer words and extra action.
much less: adjective 1. smaller in dimension, amount, degree, etc.; not so massive, nice, or a lot: less money; less speed.
Many individuals don’t realize that these two words don't share the same meaning and subsequently cannot be used interchangeably. In consequence, both fewer and fewer are sometimes used incorrectly.
The difference may be subtle but it surely’s vital and remarkably straightforward to remember. Let’s see what Dictionary.com has to say about these two words:
fewer: adjective 1. of a smaller quantity: fewer words and extra action.
much less: adjective 1. smaller in dimension, amount, degree, etc.; not so massive, nice, or a lot: less money; less speed.
The grammar guidelines are clear; let me break them down for you.
Fewer or Less? Which is Correct?
Fewer and fewer respectively discuss with a variety of items or an quantity of something. The easiest way to keep in mind which of these adjectives to use in a given scenario is this:
Fewer ought to be used when the items in question will be counted.
She has fewer books than her brother.
Much less is used when the quantity of something can't be counted.
She has much less interest in studying than her brother does.
Word that books will be counted merchandise by item. However, curiosity is not a factor that can be counted, though we are able to discuss how much of it someone has.
The basic difference right here is countability. Use fewer for countable nouns like individuals, cars, and pens. Use less for uncountable nouns comparable to love, time, and interest. Do word, nevertheless, that there are some sticky spots to be careful for when determining whether or not you should use fewer or less. For example, you might want less paper however you'll need fewer sheets of paper.
Fewer or Less
Now you understand how to inform the difference.
Do you've questions about correctly using fewer or less or every other phrase pairs? Perhaps you've got something to add to this linguistic look at difficult adjectives. Share your ideas by leaving a comment and let’s discuss.
