Less or fewer: amounts and numbers

The idea

Use fewer with plural countable nouns and less with uncountable nouns. Use less than for a total amount of time, distance or money.

Examples

• There are fewer bicycles outside today.
• Mina added less sugar to the tea.
• Our neighbours planted fewer trees this spring.
• We have less time before the train leaves.
• The new library has fewer shelves but more space.
• This route takes less than ten minutes.

Watch out

You may hear less with countable plurals in everyday speech, but fewer is the safer choice in formal writing.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. The garden has ___ flowers this year. (fewer / less)

   Show answer or example answer

   fewer

   fewer: flowers are separate things that can be counted.

2. Choose the correct option. Please put ___ salt in the soup. (fewer / less)

   Show answer or example answer

   less

   less: salt is treated as a substance here.

3. Choose the correct option. The walk takes ___ than five minutes. (fewer / less)

   Show answer or example answer

   less

   less: five minutes is considered one total duration.

Use it today

Compare your possessions and your free time using each form.