even fewer than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "even fewer than" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that a number or quantity is especially small compared to another number or quantity. For example: "Even fewer than ten people showed up to the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Fewer people go to school and even fewer than that understand the importance of school.

The Guardian

Maybe there are even fewer than six degrees of separation.

The New York Times

It's only ninety covers, which is even fewer than Chez Panisse".

The New Yorker

ME: Have you thought about using even fewer than 140 characters?

The New York Times

Investors took up just 8.3% of shares at 275p, even fewer than expected.

The Guardian - Business

Although disappointed, Frostad, a Norwegian, said that without the new cost-cutting moves, there would have been even fewer than six boats or perhaps no race at all.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

But it seems that Joe Public is rather more media literate than we expected and that they have even fewer scruples than the professionals.

The Guardian - Opinion

Young southerners have even fewer opportunities than their northern peers.

The Economist

Without them the county would have even fewer inhabitants than it's current 7,500.

The Guardian

Now the crew is back in even fewer numbers than in the most recent preattack days.

The New York Times

After all, the world's supply of gas is concentrated in even fewer hands than its oil.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "even fewer than" to emphasize a surprisingly small quantity compared to an expected or previously mentioned number. This adds impact to your statement.

Common error

Remember that "fewer" is for countable nouns. For uncountable nouns, use "even less than". For example, "even less water than expected" is correct, while "even fewer water than expected" is incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "even fewer than" functions as a comparative quantifier. It's used to indicate that the quantity of something is not only less, but surprisingly or significantly less, than another quantity. This is supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

28%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "even fewer than" is a comparative phrase used to emphasize a surprisingly small quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. Remember to use "fewer" with countable nouns, and choose alternatives like "still fewer than" or "significantly fewer than" based on the nuance you intend to convey. Avoid misusing "fewer" with uncountable nouns; "even less than" is the appropriate choice in those cases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

still fewer than

Replaces "even" with "still", maintaining the comparative aspect but with slightly less emphasis.

even a smaller number than

Replaces "fewer" with "a smaller number", emphasizing the numerical aspect.

significantly fewer than

Uses "significantly" instead of "even" to highlight the importance of the difference.

even a lower quantity than

Substitutes "fewer" with "a lower quantity", focusing on the amount.

substantially fewer than

Replaces "even" with "substantially" to emphasize that there is a considerable quantity difference.

markedly fewer than

Replaces "even" with "markedly" to strongly emphasize the reduced quantity.

appreciably fewer than

Similar to 'significantly fewer than' but sounds even more formal.

an even smaller amount than

Rephrases using "amount" instead of "fewer", appropriate for uncountable nouns.

less than

Simplifies the phrase to its core meaning, losing the emphasis of "even" and "fewer".

a reduced number compared to

Uses a different structure to express the reduced quantity, being slightly more formal.

FAQs

How can I use "even fewer than" in a sentence?

Use "even fewer than" to emphasize a smaller quantity compared to something else. For instance, "Even fewer than 20 people attended the meeting" indicates the attendance was surprisingly low.

What's the difference between "even fewer than" and "less than"?

"Even fewer than" emphasizes a smaller quantity, often unexpectedly so. "Less than" simply indicates a smaller quantity without the same level of emphasis. It is generally used with uncountable nouns.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "even fewer than"?

Alternatives include "a reduced number compared to", "still fewer than", or "significantly fewer than". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Use "even less than" with uncountable nouns (e.g., water, money, time). For example, "I have "even less than" I thought".