a fewer amount

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fewer amount" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an amount that is smaller than what is typical or expected. For example, "Due to budget cuts, we have a fewer amount of supplies this year compared to last."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Multi-target regression algorithms can compensate for a fewer amount of training instances available for a problem by exploiting the knowledge of a similar problem.

Journal of Cheminformatics

MR: Do you prefer recording with a fewer amount of tracks?

Huffington Post

In a fewer amount, two glycoproteins with GlcNAc and NeuNAc were observed.

BioMed Research International

There was found a fewer amount of glycoproteins bound to Con A. According to the molecular weight corresponding to the glycoproteins found, these might be present in the T. cruzi extract as well (190, 130, and 112 kDa).

BioMed Research International

For example, buy a specific brand of beer that contains a fewer amount of calories, or drink 1 glass of wine instead of 2 or 3 glasses.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"It's a massive amount of people going for just a few amount of calls".

The New York Times

The starting red mud was found to contain hematite, katoite, cancrinite and a few amount of diaspore, which hardly dissolved and participated in the geopolymerization reaction.

Construction and Building Materials

Microstructure of air cooled specimen consists of lower bainite with a few amount of lath martensite, whereas a mixture of lath martensite and lower bainite in prior pan-caked austenite grains has also been obtained on water quenching.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

Addition of a few amount of Cu to DLC resulted in a rise in plastic hardness and H3/E2 ratio of Cu/DLC composite thin films, but optimum value was observed for composite films having an intermediate Cu concentration.

Surface and Coatings Technology

"I just try to provide hope, knowing that if we're down a few amount of points in the fourth quarter, that we got a chance to win," Stoudemire said.

The New York Times - Sports

In any case, the performance of the 1D-PLS and 2D-PLS methods converges with a few amount of components and remains stable.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically correct, consider using "smaller amount" or "lesser amount" for better clarity and wider acceptance in formal writing.

Common error

Remember that "fewer" is generally used for countable nouns (e.g., fewer calories) while "less" is used for uncountable nouns (e.g., less water). Ensure correct usage depending on the noun you're modifying.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fewer amount" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It indicates a reduced quantity or extent. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this usage is considered grammatically correct, even if less common than other alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a fewer amount" is grammatically correct but relatively rare. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, although it suggests that alternatives such as "a smaller amount" or "a lesser amount" are more commonly used and might be preferred in formal contexts. Usage is observed across various domains, including science, news, and wiki sources. When writing, ensure that you use "fewer" with countable nouns. While acceptable, opting for more common alternatives can improve clarity and acceptance in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a smaller quantity

Replaces "amount" with "quantity", offering a more formal tone. The core meaning remains consistent.

a lesser quantity

Substitutes "smaller" with "lesser", maintaining a similar level of formality but implying a more significant reduction.

a reduced quantity

Emphasizes the act of reduction, suggesting a deliberate decrease in the amount.

a lower quantity

Focuses on the resulting state of being lower, often used in quantifiable contexts.

a diminished amount

Highlights the decrease and potential loss associated with the quantity.

a decreased amount

Focuses on the process of reduction, commonly used in technical or scientific contexts.

a smaller proportion

Shifts the focus to the relative size within a whole, rather than absolute quantity.

a reduced proportion

Highlights a decrease in relative size within a whole, implying a prior higher proportion.

a curtailed amount

Indicates a limited or restricted quantity, often due to external factors.

a limited quantity

Emphasizes the restricted nature of the amount available.

FAQs

Is "a fewer amount" grammatically correct?

Yes, "a fewer amount" is grammatically correct, but it is less common than other alternatives such as "a smaller amount" or "a lesser amount".

What can I use instead of "a fewer amount"?

You can use alternatives like "a smaller amount", "a lesser amount", or "a reduced amount" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "a fewer amount" or "a less amount"?

While "a fewer amount" is technically correct when referring to countable items, "a less amount" is generally considered incorrect. "A smaller amount" is often a better choice for clarity.

When should I use "fewer" instead of "less"?

"Fewer" should be used with countable nouns (e.g., "fewer calories"), while "less" should be used with uncountable nouns (e.g., "less water"). Therefore, when talking about countable items, consider rephrasing to use a different structure.