fewer failures

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fewer failures" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing quantities, specifically when referring to countable nouns, to indicate a reduction in the number of failures. Example: "The new software update has resulted in fewer failures during the testing phase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Still, Dr. Deland said, "we're getting fewer and fewer failures".

The New York Times - Health

No film-maker, living or dead, had fewer failures than he.

The Guardian - Film

That brightening outlook, he says, will carry over to the communications sector in the form of fewer failures.

The New York Times

That's because CBS is in an enviable position, with higher ratings than any other broadcaster and fewer failures from the current season.

The New York Times

Members of the House and Senate overrode Mr. Quinn's veto of a bill that would raise consumer electricity costs in exchange for an improved power grid, which two of the state's biggest power companies said would result in fewer failures.

The New York Times

But that's OK economically, because you have fewer failures since you're taking less risk.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

The advantages of the new design are that it exhibits stability levels comparable to the current designs with fewer components and hence fewer failure modes.

Engineering Failure Analysis

That apart, he has had few failures.

Independent

But the governor had a few failures, too.

The New York Times

Ties are broken by a "count back" based on fewest failures at the final height, fewest failures in the whole contest, or fewest attempts throughout the contest.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In fact, the few failures experienced occurred because in some dishes, the promised fire power was missing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing improvements or progress, using "fewer failures" can highlight the positive impact of changes or interventions. For example, "The new training program resulted in "fewer failures" during project execution."

Common error

Remember that "fewer" is used for countable nouns (like "failures"), while "less" is for uncountable nouns. Avoid saying "less failures"; always use "fewer failures".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fewer failures" functions as a comparative quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate a smaller quantity of undesirable outcomes. As Ludwig AI points out, it's used to express a reduction in the number of instances where something goes wrong.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fewer failures" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to express a reduction in the number of unsuccessful outcomes. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts, especially in news and scientific reporting, as evidenced by its frequent appearance in sources like The New York Times and scientific journals. Remember to use "fewer" with countable nouns, differentiating it from "less". While "fewer failures" is neutrally formal, alternative phrases like "reduced number of errors" can add a more formal tone. Using "fewer failures" can effectively highlight progress, improvements, or the efficacy of a particular strategy or intervention across different domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced number of errors

Focuses on errors instead of failures and uses a more formal tone.

decreased incidence of failure

Replaces "fewer" with "decreased incidence" making it sound more scientific or technical.

lower rate of unsuccessful attempts

Uses "rate" to quantify failures and replaces "failures" with "unsuccessful attempts" for a more descriptive phrase.

minimized errors

Emphasizes the action of reducing errors rather than the quantity of failures.

less frequent breakdowns

Substitutes "failures" with "breakdowns", implying a specific type of failure related to systems or processes.

improved success rate

Shifts the focus from failures to successes, offering a positive framing of the same outcome.

fewer incidents of collapse

Replaces "failures" with "incidents of collapse", often used in structural or organizational contexts.

decline in malfunctions

Uses "malfunctions" instead of failures, suitable for technical or mechanical contexts.

reduced malfunctions

Focuses on the malfunctions instead of failures, and uses a more formal tone.

infrequent malfunctions

This emphasizes the lack of malfunctions, and uses a more formal tone.

FAQs

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

Use "fewer failures" when you want to indicate a reduction in the number of unsuccessful outcomes. For example, "Adopting the new protocol resulted in "fewer failures" during the experiment".

What's a more formal way to say "fewer failures"?

You could use phrases like "reduced number of errors" or "decreased incidence of failure" for a more formal tone, depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "less failures" instead of "fewer failures"?

No, it is not correct. "Fewer" should be used with countable nouns like "failures". "Less" is for uncountable nouns. Therefore, the correct phrase is ""fewer failures"".

What is the difference between "fewer failures" and "improved success rate"?

"Fewer failures" focuses on the reduction of negative outcomes, while "improved success rate" emphasizes the increase in positive results. They are two sides of the same coin, but highlight different aspects of performance.