fewer opportunities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fewer opportunities" is correct and commonly used in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about a reduced number of options or chances for something. For example, "Due to the economic downturn, fewer opportunities are available for young people looking to enter the job market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fewer people means fewer opportunities".

Forbes

Fewer passengers means fewer opportunities to sell gifts on board.

BBC

Fewer companies mean fewer opportunities for people who need them.

Huffington Post

Fewer visits means fewer opportunities.

Global health, science and practice

In those days, there were fewer opportunities.

The Guardian

This might suggest that there are fewer opportunities.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

There would be fewer opportunities for me in India.

The Guardian

Men have far fewer opportunities to access health services.

The Guardian

Women also continue to have far fewer opportunities.

The Guardian - Books

And fewer rules could mean fewer opportunities for corruption.

The New York Times - Magazine

Young southerners have even fewer opportunities than their northern peers.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing broad societal or economic trends, using "fewer opportunities" can effectively highlight disparities or negative impacts. For example, "The economic downturn has led to fewer opportunities for recent graduates."

Common error

Avoid using "less opportunities". "Fewer" is for countable nouns (like "opportunities"), while "less" is for uncountable nouns (like "opportunity" when referring to a general chance). Use "fewer opportunities", not "less opportunities".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fewer opportunities" functions primarily as a quantifier phrase, modifying a noun and indicating a reduced number of possibilities or chances. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fewer opportunities" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express a reduction in available chances or possibilities. Ludwig's analysis confirms its broad applicability across diverse contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific and formal business settings. While versatile, it's crucial to remember that "fewer" is reserved for countable nouns; avoid the common error of using "less" in its place. When writing, consider replacing it with alternatives like "reduced opportunities" or "limited opportunities" to add nuance. Remember that the phrase often carries a negative connotation, highlighting concerns about declining prospects or limited access. Overall, it is a valuable expression with a specific grammatical context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lesser opportunities

Uses "lesser" which can sometimes imply a difference in quality as well as quantity, unlike "fewer" which strictly refers to quantity.

reduced opportunities

Emphasizes the act of reducing the number of opportunities, suggesting a deliberate decrease.

declining opportunities

Suggests a gradual decrease in opportunities over time.

narrower opportunities

Indicates that the range or scope of opportunities has become more limited.

limited opportunities

Highlights the constraint or restriction on the number of opportunities.

scarcer opportunities

Emphasizes the rarity and difficulty in finding opportunities.

diminished opportunities

Suggests a weakening or lessening of opportunities.

dwindling opportunities

Similar to declining, but suggests a more rapid and significant decrease.

a dearth of opportunities

Highlights a severe lack or scarcity of opportunities.

a scarcity of opportunities

Similar to "a dearth of", emphasizing the limited availability.

FAQs

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

"Fewer" is used for countable nouns like "opportunities", while "less" is used for uncountable nouns. Therefore, "fewer opportunities" is grammatically correct when referring to a specific number of chances, while "less opportunity" might describe a general lack of chance.

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

You can use "fewer opportunities" to describe a decline in available chances or possibilities, such as "Due to budget cuts, there are "fewer opportunities" for training this year."

What are some alternatives to saying "fewer opportunities"?

You can use alternatives like "reduced opportunities", "limited opportunities", or "scarcer opportunities" depending on the context.

Is "fewer opportunities" formal or informal?

"Fewer opportunities" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is a grammatically correct and widely understood phrase.