fewer service

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fewer service" is not correct in English.
The correct term should be "less service." You can use "less service" when referring to a smaller amount or degree of service provided, typically in contexts involving uncountable nouns. Example: "Due to budget cuts, we will be offering less service to our clients this year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

How will he recalibrate American defense strategy with, say, 455,000 fewer service members?

The New York Times

Valero and Ultramar own and operate even fewer service stations in California.

The New York Times

The plan calls for fewer service cuts, if any, and a fare and toll revenue jump of 8percentt.

The New York Times

About 48percentt of those surveyed cited the desire for fewer service interruptions as the primary reason for changing providers.

The New York Times

The result: fewer service workers and systems, which doesn't sit well with Elaine Price, Westchester's consumer protection director.

The New York Times

Also, with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars winding down, the military is planning to retract and will be hiring fewer service members.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Maybe it's higher taxes or fewer services.

The New York Times

Even now, a narrow majority of Americans say they want a smaller government, providing fewer services.

The Economist

The Romney campaign argued that lower payments would lead to fewer services.

The New York Times

"Basically, you have fewer workers delivering fewer services to more people," Ms. Jenkins said.

The New York Times

Instead it appears to be being achieved by job cuts, bed closures and fewer services.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a decrease in overall service, consider using "less service" or "reduced service" for better grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Remember that "fewer" is for countable nouns, while "less" is for uncountable nouns. "Service" is often treated as an uncountable noun in the context of provision or quality; therefore, "less service" is typically more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fewer service" is typically used to indicate a reduction in the amount of service provided. Ludwig AI marks this phrase as not correct. However, the examples found by Ludwig show that the phrase is used, especially in news and media, although it is often grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "fewer service" appears in a variety of sources, including news and scientific articles, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable. The core issue is the use of "fewer" with "service", which is generally treated as an uncountable noun in this context. As such, alternatives like "less service" or "reduced service" are often more appropriate. Despite its common occurrence, especially in News & Media, it's best to opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced service

Emphasizes a decrease or cutback in service provision.

diminished service

Highlights a decline in the quality or extent of service.

less service

Uses "less" which is grammatically more appropriate for uncountable nouns.

decreased service

Indicates a quantifiable reduction in the amount of service.

limited service

Suggests restrictions or constraints on the service provided.

curtailed service

Implies a service has been shortened or reduced, often unexpectedly.

restricted service

Focuses on the imposition of limits on what the service offers.

thinner service

Conveys a sense of reduced intensity or comprehensiveness of service.

lower level of service

Specifies a reduction in the standard or quality of service.

service reduction

Uses a noun phrase to describe the action of reducing service.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "fewer service"?

No, the more grammatically correct phrasing would be "less service". "Fewer" is used for countable nouns, while "less" is used for uncountable nouns. Since "service" is generally considered uncountable in this context, "less" is the appropriate choice.

What is a good alternative to using the phrase "fewer service"?

Consider using alternatives like "reduced service" or "diminished service" for clearer and more accurate communication.

How can I use "fewer service" correctly in a sentence?

While not strictly correct, it appears in contexts where a decrease in services is described. However, rephrasing to "less service" is generally recommended to adhere to standard English grammar.

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

"Fewer" is for countable items (e.g., fewer appointments), while "less" is for uncountable quantities (e.g., less service). Therefore, when speaking about the overall amount of service provided, "less service" is usually the better option.