fewer than

USAGE SUMMARY

"fewer than" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use "fewer than" when referring to a countable number of items in comparison with another number. For example, "I saw fewer than ten people at the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now, fewer than 59.

The New York Times

It took fewer than 100.

The Economist

"I expected fewer than 300".

The New York Times

Volunteers are fewer than before.

The Guardian

Now fewer than half are.

The New York Times

There were fewer than 60.

Independent

Perhaps fewer than some expect.

The Economist

Today, fewer than 700 survive.

The New York Times

Today fewer than half do.

The Economist

Most had fewer than 50 members.

The New York Times

Now, there were fewer than half that.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fewer than" when referring to countable nouns. For uncountable nouns, use "less than". For instance, "fewer than 10 apples" is correct, while "less than 10 liters" is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "less than" when "fewer than" is more appropriate. "Less than" is used for uncountable nouns. Example of incorrect usage: "Less than 50 people attended." Correct usage: "Fewer than 50 people attended."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fewer than" functions as a prepositional phrase used primarily for quantitative comparison. It indicates that a certain quantity is smaller than another specified quantity. Ludwig examples confirm this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

13%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fewer than" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate that a countable quantity is smaller than another. It is grammatically correct and very common in various contexts, especially in News & Media. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely accepted and used correctly in numerous examples. Remember to use "fewer than" for countable nouns and "less than" for uncountable nouns. Common alternatives include "a smaller number than" and "not as many as". Avoid the mistake of using "less than" with countable nouns. The phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than

Replaces "fewer" which is specific to countable items, with "less" which can apply to both countable and uncountable quantities.

a smaller number than

Provides a more explicit and formal way of stating that a quantity is less than another.

not as many as

Emphasizes the quantity aspect and is useful in comparisons.

a lower quantity than

Focuses on the numerical value being smaller.

under

A more concise and informal way to express "less than" a certain amount.

below

Similar to 'under', this term implies a value that is lower than a specific threshold.

not exceeding

Indicates a maximum limit that is not reached.

a minority of

Implies that the quantity represents a small portion of a larger group.

a reduced number of

Highlights that the amount has decreased compared to a previous state.

a fraction of

Suggests that the amount is a small part of a whole.

FAQs

When should I use "fewer than" versus "less than"?

"Fewer than" is used with countable nouns (things you can count individually), while "less than" is used with uncountable nouns (things you can't count individually). For example, "fewer than 10 books" but "less than 5 liters of water".

What are some alternatives to saying "fewer than"?

You can use alternatives like "less than" (when appropriate for uncountable nouns), "a smaller number than", or "not as many as" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "less people"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. You should say "fewer people" because "people" is a countable noun.

How can I remember the difference between "fewer" and "less"?

Think of "fewer" as relating to individual items you can count (like fingers). Think of "less" as relating to a total amount of something you cannot count, like water or time.