fewer degrees

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fewer degrees" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when referring to a smaller number of degrees, often in contexts like temperature or academic qualifications. Example: "This winter has brought us fewer degrees than last year, making it feel much colder."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The more terror attacks there are, then more of us will have fewer degrees of separation.

Independent

That is because matter is locked into position, and thus has fewer degrees of freedom than footloose energy.

The Economist

More simply, you could say that "Ghostwritten" relates the intersecting stories of a dozen people all connected to one another by six (or fewer) degrees of separation.

The New York Times - Books

As in "Ghostwritten," which recounted the intersecting stories of a dozen people connected by six (or fewer) degrees of separation, Mr. Mitchell shows his dexterity as a writer in this volume by shifting gears among a wide variety of styles.

The New York Times - Books

So fewer degrees are being granted to overseas students.

Forbes

This might explain why it takes fewer degrees to be connected on the microblogging network.

TechCrunch

The more dependent on the capital markets you are, the fewer degrees of freedom you have.

TechCrunch

This results in superior accuracy with fewer degrees of freedom than conventional FEM or FDM.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Compared to the mixed FEM, the method achieves local mass balance with fewer degrees of freedom.

Journal of Hydrology

Being a smaller molecule with fewer degrees of freedom, the Ramachandran angles are not defined.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Accurate results even with fewer degrees of freedom than for those of comparable numerical algorithms were achieved.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing academic qualifications, clarify the specific field or area to which the "fewer degrees" refer to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Be mindful of the context. "Fewer degrees" in a statistical or scientific context often refers to "degrees of freedom", a concept distinct from academic degrees or temperature. Ensure your usage is appropriate to the subject matter.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fewer degrees" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It indicates a reduced quantity of something measured in degrees, whether it's academic qualifications, temperature, or degrees of freedom in a statistical context. As Ludwig AI exemplifies, it can appear in diverse sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fewer degrees" is grammatically correct and very common in written English. It indicates a smaller quantity of items measured in 'degrees'. As demonstrated by Ludwig, its usage spans diverse contexts, including science, news, and formal writing, with a primary function of quantifying a reduction. While generally acceptable, it's crucial to consider the context to avoid ambiguity, particularly concerning "degrees of freedom". The examples and related phrases provided offer a comprehensive understanding of its applications. Based on Ludwig AI analysis, "fewer degrees" follows standard English grammar rules and can be considered suitable for use in formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced degrees

Implies a decrease in the number of degrees, focusing on the action of reduction.

lesser degrees

Emphasizes the diminished magnitude or significance of the degrees.

smaller degrees

Highlights the physical or conceptual size of the degrees.

decreased degrees

Focuses on the diminishing trend of the degrees.

lower degrees

Indicates a downward shift in the level or ranking of the degrees.

minimal degrees

Suggests the bare minimum number of degrees required.

limited degrees

Emphasizes the restricted availability or extent of the degrees.

scarce degrees

Highlights the rarity or limited supply of the degrees.

deficient degrees

Points out a lack or inadequacy in the number of degrees.

attenuated degrees

Indicates a weakening or reduction in the intensity of the degrees.

FAQs

How can I use "fewer degrees" in a sentence?

You can use "fewer degrees" to indicate a smaller quantity of academic qualifications, such as "Employees at our institution with "fewer degrees" and less experience are earning more". It can also refer to a smaller temperature reading or "degrees of freedom" in statistics.

What's the difference between "fewer degrees" and "less degrees"?

"Fewer" is generally used with countable nouns (like "degrees"), while "less" is used with uncountable nouns. Thus, "fewer degrees" is grammatically more precise, although "less degrees" may be encountered in informal contexts.

What are some alternatives to "fewer degrees"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "fewer degrees" could include "reduced degrees", "lesser degrees", or a more specific description of the quantity being reduced.

In what contexts is "fewer degrees" most commonly used?

"Fewer degrees" is frequently used in academic and scientific writing, as well as news and media, particularly when discussing educational attainment or statistical analysis.