fewer hours

USAGE SUMMARY

'fewer hours' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to compare two different amounts of hours. For example, "I used to work 10 hours a day, but now I'm only working 8 hours - that's two fewer hours!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Icelanders worked fewer hours.

The Economist

"Thirty years ago I worked fewer hours.

The New York Times

My days contain fewer hours.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Lawyers are booking fewer hours.

The New York Times

They also work fewer hours.

The Guardian - Opinion

Winter means fewer hours of daylight.

Columbia University

When they do, they work fewer hours.

The Guardian - Opinion

The lower fee, however, means fewer hours.

The New York Times

"Here, there's fewer hours worked per week.

The Guardian

He's always mindful that fewer hours mean fewer rewards.

The Guardian

"So nobody comes around, and we work fewer hours.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the duration of tasks or events, using "fewer hours" is appropriate for countable instances. For uncountable time, use "less time".

Common error

Avoid using "less hours". "Fewer" is correct when referring to countable items like hours. "Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., "less time").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fewer hours" primarily functions as a quantifier phrase, specifying a reduced amount of time. Examples in Ludwig show its usage in contexts like working fewer hours or having fewer hours of daylight. The Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fewer hours" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe a reduction in time, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is versatile across various contexts, including news, academia, and general conversation. The phrase functions as a quantifier, primarily communicating a decrease in the amount of time spent on something. Remember to use "fewer" for countable instances like hours, and avoid the common mistake of using "less" in such cases. Alternatives include "reduced hours" and "shorter work hours".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced hours

Emphasizes the act of decreasing the number of hours.

shorter work hours

Specifically relates to work duration and its decrease.

decreased hours

Focuses on the diminishing quantity of hours.

less time

A more general term indicating a reduction in time spent.

truncated hours

Suggests that the hours have been cut short.

diminished hours

Highlights the reduction in the amount of hours available or worked.

curtailed hours

Implies a restriction or limitation on the number of hours.

abbreviated hours

Suggests hours have been shortened or made briefer.

limited time

Highlights that the time available is restricted

shorter duration

Focuses on the decreased length of a specific activity or event

FAQs

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

You can use "fewer hours" to indicate a reduction in the amount of time spent on an activity, such as "I'm working "fewer hours" this week because of the holiday".

What's the difference between "fewer hours" and "less time"?

"Fewer hours" refers to a countable number of hours, while "less time" refers to an uncountable amount of time. For example, "I have "fewer hours" to work this week," but "I have "less time" to relax".

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

No, it is grammatically incorrect to say "less hours". Use ""fewer hours"" when referring to a specific, countable number of hours.

What are some alternatives to saying "fewer hours"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "reduced hours", "shorter work hours", or "decreased hours".