far fewer

USAGE SUMMARY

"far fewer" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used when making comparisons between two numbers. For example, "The new mural had far fewer details than the artist's previous work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Farmers employ far fewer workers.

The Economist

"They had far fewer needs".

The New York Times - Books

Far fewer sliders.

The New York Times - Sports

She now faces far fewer doubters.

The New York Times

Now it makes far fewer than half.

The Economist

A year ago, there were far fewer.

The New York Times - Sports

Unfortunately, the latter are far fewer.

The New York Times

Far fewer North Koreans believe this today.

The New Yorker

We are expecting far fewer late deals".

Independent

The farm employs far fewer workers.

The New York Times

Far fewer go to church on Sundays.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far fewer" to emphasize a significant difference in quantity or number compared to something else. It adds impact when simply saying "fewer" might not be strong enough.

Common error

Avoid using "far fewer" with non-countable nouns. "Fewer" is for countable items; for non-countable nouns, use "far less". For example, it's correct to say "far fewer apples", but you should say "far less water".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far fewer" functions as a determiner, specifically indicating a quantifier. It modifies a noun to express that the quantity is significantly smaller than another. Ludwig shows many examples in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "far fewer" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize a significant difference in quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a versatile expression suitable for various contexts, predominantly found in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business publications. When writing, remember to use "far fewer" with countable nouns and to emphasize a substantial difference. If you don't want to use the query, consider using "significantly less", "considerably fewer", or "substantially reduced" for alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly less

Emphasizes the notable difference in quantity.

considerably fewer

Highlights the substantial reduction in number.

substantially reduced

Focuses on the act of reducing something to a lower quantity.

a great deal fewer

Implies a large difference in amount.

markedly decreased

Highlights a noticeable decrease in number.

appreciably less

Indicates a reduction that is easily noticed or measured.

noticeably smaller

Focuses on the visibility of the reduced quantity.

vastly diminished

Emphasizes a significant reduction or depletion.

a fraction of

Highlights that the remaining quantity is only a small part of the original.

hardly any

Indicates an almost negligible amount or quantity.

FAQs

How do I use "far fewer" in a sentence?

"Far fewer" is used to indicate a significantly smaller number of countable items compared to something else. For example: "There are "far fewer cars" on the road today than there were twenty years ago".

What's the difference between "far fewer" and "fewer"?

"Far fewer" emphasizes a greater difference in quantity than simply using "fewer". While "fewer" indicates a smaller number, "far fewer" highlights that the difference is substantial.

What can I say instead of "far fewer"?

You can use alternatives like "significantly less", "considerably fewer", or "substantially reduced" depending on the context.

Is "far fewer" formal or informal language?

"Far fewer" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its acceptability spans a wide range of written and spoken communication, making it a versatile and appropriate choice in various settings.