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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
fewer population
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
'fewer population' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a decrease in the number of people in a particular area or group. For example, "The city had a significantly fewer population in 2020 compared to previous years."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Academia
Alternative expressions(20)
smaller population size
reduced number of inhabitants
declining population figures
lower population numbers
a decrease in the population
a dwindling population
slower population
older population
lower population
smaller population
shorter population
lighter population
cleaner population
poorer population
younger population
worse population
weaker population
narrower population
earlier population
lesser population
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
6 human-written examples
Especially important practical advantages over the RCT are that this design requires fewer population groups and communities may act as their own controls.
Over prolonged culture (16 days), SINEG2 cells underwent fewer population doublings than either of the control cells.
Science
It was discovered that BMSCs senesce after fewer population doublings than ASCs and UCMSCs demonstrating the more limited use of these types of MSCs for tissue regeneration.
Science
Rotenone inhibited cell proliferation, as indicated by fewer population doublings (PD) over 4 days (Supplementary figure 1A), and increased percentage of cells expressing SA-βgal (Supplementary figure 1B), consistent with previously reported results [ 49].
Science
If behavior is considered in isolation, then a lower impact on behavior may seem to have fewer population consequences; when behavior is considered in combination with infertility, it may actually increase the risk of reproductive failure in natural populations.
But in all our experiments, stromal cells derived from normal part of the resected lung tumour tended to senesce faster (after fewer population doublings) than cells from tumour part.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
54 human-written examples
Studies continue to focus on the gut7,8,9, with fewer population-scale cohorts investigating vaginal10, oral11, or skin12 microbial communities.
Science & Research
The structure of wild populations shifted towards fewer populations with less rosettes but overall numbers and sizes of populations increased.
There have been fewer population-based studies of colorectal survival in other racial/ethnic groups [ 5, 6, 17- 20].
Science
First, non-DArT markers were, on the average, assayed in fewer populations than DArT markers.
Science
In addition, host specific parasites are likely to possess fewer populations than multi-host parasites [ 56].
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When discussing population changes, be specific about the context. For example, use "fewer population" when referring to a specific demographic group or geographic area that has experienced a decline.
Common error
Avoid using "less population" instead of "fewer population." "Fewer" is used for countable nouns like "people" or "inhabitants," while "less" is for uncountable nouns like "water" or "money."
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "fewer population" functions as a determinative-noun phrase, where "fewer" modifies the noun "population." It indicates a reduced quantity of a group of people. Ludwig examples show its use in scientific and general contexts.
Frequent in
Science
70%
News & Media
20%
Academia
10%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "fewer population" is grammatically correct and used to describe a decrease in the number of people. According to Ludwig, this phrase appears most frequently in scientific contexts, followed by news and media. It's important to use "fewer" with countable nouns like "population" and avoid the common mistake of using "less" instead. Alternative phrases like "smaller population size" or "reduced number of inhabitants" can be used for variety. Overall, while not exceedingly common, "fewer population" is a valid and useful phrase in various writing scenarios.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
lower population numbers
Similar to the original but uses "numbers" instead of "population" to focus on the numerical aspect.
smaller population size
Replaces "fewer" with "smaller" and adds "size" for emphasis, focusing on the population's magnitude.
a decrease in the population
Rephrases the original to use a more common phrasing for describing population decline.
reduced number of inhabitants
Substitutes "fewer" with "reduced number" and "population" with "inhabitants", offering a more descriptive alternative.
a dwindling population
Replaces "fewer" with "dwindling" to emphasize the gradual reduction in population.
declining population figures
Uses "declining" to indicate a downward trend and replaces "population" with "figures", shifting the focus to statistical data.
diminished population count
Employs "diminished" to convey reduction and replaces "population" with "count", providing a more formal tone.
scarcer population group
Replaces "fewer" with "scarcer", emphasizing rarity, and adds "group" to specify a segment of the population.
thinner population density
Focuses on population density rather than the overall number, using "thinner" to describe the spread.
less populous area
Rephrases to focus on the area's characteristic of having a smaller population.
FAQs
How can I use "fewer population" in a sentence?
You can use "fewer population" to describe a decline in the number of people within a specific group or area. For instance, "The rural county now has a "fewer population" due to urbanization."
What's a good alternative to "fewer population"?
Alternatives include phrases like "smaller population size", "reduced number of inhabitants", or "declining population figures", depending on the specific context.
Is it grammatically correct to say "less population"?
No, it's generally not considered grammatically correct. The word "fewer" should be used with countable nouns like "people" or "inhabitants," while "less" is for uncountable nouns. Therefore, ""fewer population"" is the appropriate phrase.
What is the difference between "fewer population" and "smaller population"?
"Fewer population" directly implies a reduction in numbers compared to a previous state or another group. "Smaller population" simply describes the size of a population without necessarily implying a change over time.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested