fewer circulation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fewer circulation" is not correct in written English.
The term "fewer" is used for countable nouns, while "circulation" in this context is typically uncountable. Example: "The magazine reported fewer circulation numbers this quarter compared to last year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Although there are probably a few in circulation already, I started working on one for New Jerseyans.

The New York Times

Punch a few "air circulation" holes in each bag you are going to use.

WikiHow

As a freelancer for The Christian Science Monitor, one of a very few small-circulation, stand-alone newspapers in the Western world to have assigned its own reporters to Iraq, she took greater risks than many of her colleagues.

The New York Times

With fewer shares in circulation, earnings per share can rise smartly even if the company's underlying growth is lackluster.

The New York Times

The world in which they made their mark was not so relentlessly visual as ours is today, with fewer images in circulation.

The New York Times - Style

The fame this enabled was near universal: with fewer stars in circulation and a rigidly established pecking order, those at the top had almost blanket exposure.

The Guardian - Opinion

After a few minutes without circulation, victims slip into comas.

The New York Times

Within a few years the circulation of the Independent rose to within touching distance of both the Times and the Guardian, and the previously stagnant market was provoked into a frenzy of defensive activity to retain readers.

The Guardian

However, a comparison of the attrition model constants with the data reported in the literature showed the two limestones to be particularly fragile during the initial calcination and the first few hours of circulation.

Fuel

United States notes were produced until 1971, and a few remain in circulation today.

Huffington Post

Within a few hours, the circulation was not evident on satellite imagery, and the NHC discontinued advisories.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the volume or extent of "circulation", use "lower" or "reduced" instead of "fewer" to ensure grammatical accuracy. For example, prefer "lower circulation numbers".

Common error

Avoid using "fewer" with nouns that are generally uncountable, such as "circulation". "Fewer" is reserved for countable nouns. Replace it with "less" or other suitable adjectives like "reduced" or "lower".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fewer circulation" functions as a descriptive phrase aiming to express a decrease in the amount or extent of circulation. However, it exhibits grammatical issues due to the incorrect use of "fewer" with an uncountable noun. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Encyclopedias

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Wiki

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Reference

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fewer circulation" is generally considered grammatically incorrect because "fewer" is typically used with countable nouns, while "circulation" is often treated as an uncountable noun. As Ludwig AI points out, it's best to opt for alternatives like "lower circulation" or "reduced circulation" to maintain grammatical accuracy. Although examples exist, they don't validate the correctness of the phrase. Careful selection of words is key to clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lower circulation

Replaces "fewer" with "lower" to correct the grammatical mismatch. Circulation is treated as uncountable.

reduced circulation

Uses "reduced" instead of "fewer" for grammatical correctness, fitting better with the uncountable nature of "circulation".

decreased circulation

Similar to "reduced circulation", this alternative uses "decreased" to denote a decline in circulation numbers.

smaller circulation

Emphasizes the size or extent of circulation being less than before.

declining circulation

Focuses on the process of circulation decreasing over time.

less circulation

Uses 'less' instead of 'fewer', although both indicate a reduction, 'less' is generally used with uncountable nouns.

diminished circulation

Suggests a weaker or lessened circulation.

weakened circulation

Implies that the circulation is not as strong or robust as it once was.

limited circulation

Indicates restrictions or constraints on circulation.

restricted circulation

Similar to limited, but often implies a deliberate action to control circulation.

FAQs

Why is "fewer circulation" considered grammatically incorrect?

The word "fewer" is used to quantify countable nouns, whereas "circulation," referring to the overall distribution, is generally treated as an uncountable noun. Thus, adjectives like "lower circulation" or "reduced circulation" are more appropriate.

What are some correct alternatives to "fewer circulation"?

Appropriate alternatives include "less circulation", "smaller circulation", or phrases like "a decline in circulation depending on the context".

In what contexts might I want to talk about circulation?

You may discuss circulation in various contexts, such as newspaper or magazine readership, blood flow in the body, or the movement of currency in an economy. Each context might slightly influence the choice of adjective, but "lower circulation" or "reduced circulation" remain generally suitable.

Is there a difference between using "less circulation" and "fewer circulation"?

Yes, "less" is typically paired with uncountable nouns, while "fewer" is for countable nouns. Since "circulation" (in the general sense of distribution) is usually uncountable, "less circulation" is grammatically preferable to "fewer circulation", but better alternatives are "lower circulation" or "reduced circulation".