fewer profits

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fewer profits" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when discussing a decrease in the amount of profit, often in a comparative context. Example: "Due to the recent market downturn, the company reported fewer profits this quarter compared to last."

✓ Grammatically correct

Business

News & Media

Finance

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

In its most recent, frenzied incarnation, dot-com entrepreneurs have exchanged stock in companies with few tangible assets and even fewer profits for control of established, profitable companies.

The New York Times - Books

4) Companies can just settle for fewer profits.

The Washington Post

Making matters worse, businesses are already plowing fewer profits back into their own enterprises.

The New York Times

Even after absorbing tens of billions of dollars in write-offs, banks and brokerage firms will generate fewer profits in the next few years, analysts say.

The New York Times

Fuel is one of the largest expenses for airlines, and a strong currency translates into fewer profits when overseas earnings are repatriated.

The New York Times

Depending on the size of the refinancing and the interest rates, SNY's debt payments could rise, which could mean that fewer profits are shuttled to the Mets' bottom line, Ganis said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

That has meant fewer profit-devouring markdowns, less need for store workers to devote time to stock management, and the ability to more quickly change up the products it sells.

Forbes

Pharmaceutical companies had left the vaccine field because there were few profits to be made.

The Guardian

If they were bought in the past nine months, there would be few profits and thus little in income tax collected.

The New York Times

Like Germany's other big banks, it remains bogged down by a home market that has too many banks fighting for too few profits.

The New York Times

Small wonder, then, that big drugs firms have remained leery of this market.Indeed, they have been cautious about developing countries in general, which they have regarded as the source of many headaches and few profits.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a company's financial performance, use "fewer profits" to directly indicate a decrease in the amount of profit earned compared to a previous period or expectation.

Common error

Avoid using "less profits", as "fewer" is appropriate for countable items like profits. "Less" is used for uncountable nouns. For example, "fewer profits" is correct, while "less revenue" is correct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fewer profits" functions as a noun phrase. Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically correct and describes a reduction in earnings. It commonly appears in business and financial contexts to describe performance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fewer profits" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to indicate a decline in earnings, especially in business and financial contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. While "lower profits" serves as a direct alternative, "reduced income" and "declining revenues" offer nuanced perspectives. Remember to use "fewer" with countable nouns like "profits" and avoid the common mistake of using "less". Its neutral to professional register makes it appropriate for formal reporting and discussions about financial performance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Lower earnings

Focuses specifically on the earnings aspect of profitability, omitting the broader concept of profit.

Reduced income

Emphasizes the income component, often used when discussing personal or household finances, unlike business profits.

Profit downturn

This phrase emphasizes a negative trend or reversal in profit performance.

Slump in profitability

Indicates a sudden and significant decrease in how profitable a company or investment is.

Weaker bottom line

This alternative uses business jargon, referring to the net income after all expenses are accounted for.

Thinner profit margins

This refers specifically to the difference between the selling price and the cost of production, indicating reduced profitability.

Declining revenues

Shifts the focus to revenue generation rather than overall profitability, highlighting sales performance.

Shrinking margins

Highlights the difference between revenue and costs, implying profitability issues specifically related to cost management.

Less lucrative

Describes a situation where something is not as profitable or rewarding as it once was.

Diminished returns

Focuses on the return on investment, suggesting that investments are not yielding as much profit.

FAQs

How to use "fewer profits" in a sentence?

You can use "fewer profits" to indicate a decline in earnings, such as: "The company reported "fewer profits" this quarter due to increased operating costs".

What can I say instead of "fewer profits"?

Alternatives include "lower earnings", "reduced income", or "declining revenues", depending on the specific aspect you want to emphasize.

Which is correct: "fewer profits" or "less profits"?

"Fewer profits" is the correct choice. "Fewer" is used with countable nouns like "profits", while "less" is used with uncountable nouns.

What's the difference between "fewer profits" and "lower profits"?

While both phrases describe a decrease in earnings, ""fewer profits"" emphasizes a reduction in the number of profitable transactions or activities, whereas "lower profits" more generally refers to a reduced amount of overall profit.