Difference between Fewer and Less

Difference between Fewer and Less

There is a lot of confusion over the words “fewer” and “less.” Both words describe a quantity that is not complete, but they have different implications. In this blog post, we will explore the difference between these two words and how to use them correctly. We will also look at examples to help you understand their usage. So, let’s get started!

What is Fewer?

The word “fewer” is used to describe a smaller quantity than something else. For example, if someone has fewer apples than oranges, they have less apples than oranges. Likewise, if someone has fewer cookies than cupcakes, they have less cookies than cupcakes. The word “fewer” is always used with plural nouns. So, if you’re talking about a smaller quantity of one thing, you would use the word “less.” For example, if you have less sugar than flour, you have a smaller quantity of sugar than flour. “Fewer” can also be used to describe a smaller amount of time. For example, if an event is scheduled to last for two hours but ends up lasting for one hour and 45 minutes, you would say that it lasted for fewer hours than expected. In this case, “hours” is a plural noun, and “fewer” is used to describe a smaller quantity.

What is Less?

The “Less” word is a term used to describe an object or concept that is of decreased size, amount, or degree. For example, a smaller piece of cake would be considered “less cake.” This term can also be used to describe something that is of lower quality or value, such as “less expensive” or “less educated.” Additionally, the “less” word can be used to describe something that is more general or abstract, such as “the less obvious choice.” Ultimately, the meaning of the “less” word will depend on the context in which it is used.

Difference between Fewer and Less

Fewer and less are both words that can be used to describe a smaller quantity. However, there is an important distinction between the two. Fewer is used when referring to a specific number of things, while less is used when referring to a general amount. For example, if you had ten cookies and ate three of them, you would have fewer cookies. On the other hand, if you generally eat fewer sweets, this would mean that you eat less sugar overall. As a result, it is important to choose the right word when describing a quantity. Using fewer when you should use less can make you sound incorrect while using less when you should use fewer can make your writing sound vague. When in doubt, it is always best to err on the side of specificity.

Conclusion

In short, use “fewer” when referring to discrete items that can be counted and “less” when referring to a continuous quantity. For example, you would say “There are fewer apples left,” because we can count the apples. However, you would say “The juice has less sugar,” because sugar is not a discrete item that can be counted. Hopefully, this clears up any confusion between these two words.

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