fewer still

USAGE SUMMARY

'Fewer still' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to emphasize a smaller number or amount than the one already stated. For example: "Out of the 200 people attending the conference, fewer still managed to attend the follow-up meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Mr Clarke currently has slightly fewer still.

The Economist

Few illegal loggers face prosecution; fewer still are convicted.

The Economist

When the global economy recovers, there will be fewer still.

The Economist

Traditionally, few minorities study German, and fewer still teach it.

The New York Times

Pacifists were often a minority, and absolute pacifists fewer still.

The New York Times

At the village of Savelyevskaya, voters were fewer still.

The New York Times

The trains, although fewer, still pass through town.

The New York Times

Only a few have any interest in taking PE and fewer still have the skills.

Independent

Admittedly, few tears should be shed for Mr Blodget and fewer still for Mr Grubman.

The Economist

There may be fewer still when EMI is sold, as is expected soon.

The Economist

There are few women in the engineering sector and fewer still in its top jobs.

World Pumps

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fewer still" to emphasize a further reduction from an already small number. It adds a sense of diminishing quantity or degree for countable items.

Common error

Avoid using "less still" when referring to countable items. "Fewer" is appropriate for countable nouns, while "less" is for uncountable nouns. For example, it's correct to say "fewer still apples", not "less still apples".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fewer still" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or clause by indicating a further reduction in quantity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it emphasizes a smaller number compared to a previously mentioned small number. Examples throughout Ludwig's results show it consistently used to highlight diminishing amounts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "fewer still" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to emphasize a further reduction in quantity, especially when referring to countable items. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in highlighting diminishing amounts. It is most commonly found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, and maintains a neutral register suitable for various writing styles. Remember to use "fewer" with countable nouns and avoid the common error of using "less" instead. Alternatives like "even fewer" or "still less" can be used for variety, depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even fewer

This alternative maintains a very similar structure and meaning to "fewer still", emphasizing a reduced quantity.

still a smaller number

This is another slightly more verbose version of "fewer still" that maintains a similar meaning.

still less

This phrase shifts from quantifying to measuring degree, but the overall meaning of reduction is preserved.

an even smaller number

This alternative is more explicit and less idiomatic than "fewer still", but it serves the same purpose.

a reduced quantity

It replaces "fewer" with a more formal term and emphasizes the idea of diminishing amount.

a yet smaller quantity

This alternative uses "quantity" to emphasize a smaller amount

even a smaller amount

This alternative uses "amount" instead of "number", typically for non-countable items.

a diminished number

This alternative replaces "fewer" with "diminished", indicating something has been reduced

even tinier amount

This expression uses the adjective "tinier" to suggest less amount

even a lower quantity

This alternative changes "fewer" into "lower" to emphasize smaller number

FAQs

How to use "fewer still" in a sentence?

"Fewer still" is used to emphasize that a quantity is even smaller than a previous small quantity. For example: "Many applied, few were selected, and "fewer still" passed the final test".

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

"Fewer" is used for countable nouns, while "less" is for uncountable nouns. Therefore, "fewer still" should be used when referring to countable items, and "less still" when referring to uncountable quantities or abstract concepts.

What can I say instead of "fewer still"?

Alternatives include "even fewer", "still less", or "an even smaller number", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "fewer still remain"?

Yes, it is correct. "Fewer still remain" is grammatically sound and emphasizes that the number remaining is even smaller than what was previously implied or stated. For example, "Many tried, but few succeeded, and "fewer still" remain".