a bit fewer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a bit fewer" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would be "a bit less" when referring to uncountable nouns, while "fewer" is used for countable nouns. Example: "There are a bit fewer apples in the basket than yesterday."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Brian Flynn, an assistant inspector general in the office, said a bit fewer than half of the visits turned up no major problems with management or execution.

The New York Times

The number of potholes is reportedly on par with, or a bit fewer than, those caused by the brutal weather of the previous two winters.

The New York Times

"We'll still make mistakes," he adds, but "we'll probably make a bit fewer than people who have not had the experience". Being an entrepreneur requires passion and an adaptive personality, he says.

Stanford University

There are a bit fewer people flying because of scare-mongering that its dangerous to fly, that you're going to get held up at the airport for a long time.

The New York Times

Reinhart and Rogoff may get a bit fewer high-profile invites, as will Alesina and Ardagna; but Bowles and Simpson are still touring, the same people at the BIS and the OECD are still issuing dire warnings about the dangers of easy money, George Osborne is still making pronouncements, Paul Ryan is still the intellectual leader of his party.

The New York Times

A bit more apartment living and train-riding (and a bit fewer suburban houses and cars) might make life cheaper for the Ramen crowd as well.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

While there are plenty of cultural underpinnings for the plant-based explosion — we'll get to that in a bit — few are more powerful than the phrase itself.

The Washington Post

"As leader of the opposition, you get your moments to set out your vision, but they are a bit few and far between.

The Guardian

"You have your Adeles and Taylor Swifts, but they're a little bit fewer and farther between".

Los Angeles Times

Their absence would strain the faith, a bit, but few theorists say they would give up.

The New York Times - Science

But as air travel picks up a bit, a few full-service airlines are once again trying the image approach.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a slight decrease in countable items, it's grammatically safer to rephrase using "slightly fewer" or "a smaller number of" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "a bit fewer" when referring to uncountable nouns. Always use "less" for uncountable items. For example, say "a bit less water", not "a bit fewer water".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a bit fewer" functions as a quantifier, attempting to specify a slightly reduced quantity. However, Ludwig AI points out that standard English grammar typically prefers "fewer" for countable nouns without the "a bit" modifier or "less" for uncountable nouns.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a bit fewer" aims to express a slight reduction in quantity, it's considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI recommends using "slightly fewer" for countable nouns or "a little less" for uncountable nouns. Examples of "a bit fewer" can be found across news and academic sources, but due to its grammatical issues, it's best to opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and correctness in writing. Remember to use "fewer" for countable nouns and "less" for uncountable nouns to avoid common errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Slightly less

Replaces "a bit" with "slightly" and "fewer" with "less", suitable for uncountable nouns.

A little less

Substitutes "bit" with "little" and "fewer" with "less", appropriate for uncountable nouns.

Somewhat fewer

Replaces "a bit" with "somewhat", maintaining the focus on a slight reduction in number.

A smaller number

Replaces the entire phrase to focus on the quantity being smaller.

Marginally fewer

Emphasizes the slight nature of the reduction using "marginally".

A shade fewer

Uses "shade" to indicate a very slight decrease.

Minimally fewer

Highlights the minimal difference in quantity.

A trickle less

More suitable for fluids or things that diminish slowly.

Barely fewer

Emphasizes how close the amounts are.

Slightly reduced

Focuses on the action of reduction rather than the resulting quantity.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say there are slightly less items?

Instead of "a bit fewer", use "slightly fewer" for countable items (e.g., "slightly fewer apples") or "a little less" for uncountable items (e.g., "a little less water").

Is "a bit fewer" grammatically correct?

According to standard English grammar, "a bit fewer" is generally considered incorrect. It's better to use "slightly fewer" or "a smaller number of" for countable items and "a little less" for uncountable items.

How can I rephrase "a bit fewer" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, replace "a bit fewer" with phrases like "a slightly reduced number of" or "a marginally smaller quantity", depending on whether you're referring to countable or uncountable items.

What's the difference between "a bit fewer" and "a bit less"?

"Fewer" is used for countable nouns (things you can count individually), while "less" is used for uncountable nouns (things you can't count individually). Therefore, "a bit fewer" should be used with countable nouns, although it's generally considered incorrect. "a little less" is used with uncountable nouns.