fewer than for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fewer than for" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and does not convey a clear meaning without additional context. Example: "There are fewer than for the previous year, which indicates a decline in participation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

The jobless total dropped to 1.68 million, 99,000 fewer than for June to August 2015 and 239,000 fewer than for a year earlier.

The Guardian - Business

Each center still needs clerks to type in data, although far fewer than for previous censuses.

The New York Times - Tech

No electropolished instrument showed more than one crack origin, significantly fewer than for the nonelectropolished instruments (p < 0.05).

Journal of Endodontics

They sold 47,967 tickets, just 304 fewer than for the home opener, which remains the only sellout this season.

The New York Times - Sports

It is a high number for a political broadcast - 21.7% of viewers - but fewer than for the three presidential debates, which all attracted more than 30% of viewers.

The Guardian

Last Sunday's race at Talladega drew an estimated 127,500 fans — 14,500 fewer than in April and 17,500 fewer than for the fall race in 2008.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Additionally, we showed that QTLs for DPS were fewer than QTLs for ND and that QTLs for DPS coincided with QTLs for ND.

BMC Plant Biology

Senators, for example, submitted over 900 questions for the record compared to fewer than 150 for the previous START treaty.

Huffington Post

US viewing figures showed a sharp drop from 16.2 million for the opener to fewer than nine million for the third.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In conclusion, more comparative effectiveness trials are needed for CLEWs, for which head-to-head comparisons are fewer than those for psoriasis and AV.

Journal of Investigative Dermatology

Ste and Stp required a brood size of fewer than ten for N2 and fewer than five for rrf-3.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "fewer than for" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives such as "less than" or "not as many as" to ensure clarity and maintain a professional tone.

Common error

Don't confuse "fewer" (used for countable nouns) with "less" (used for uncountable nouns). Even when trying to express a comparison, ensure you are using the correct term based on what you are counting. For instance, instead of writing, "fewer resources than for", consider writing "fewer resources than available for".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fewer than for" attempts to serve as a comparative, aiming to indicate a smaller quantity of something in relation to something else. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is not grammatically correct in standard English. It requires restructuring to convey the intended comparison effectively.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

44%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

4%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "fewer than for" appears in various texts, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. For clearer and more professional writing, it's advisable to replace it with alternatives such as "less than" or "not as many as". Although present in news and scientific articles, adhering to correct grammar enhances communication and credibility. Therefore, use "fewer than for" with caution, particularly in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than for

Emphasizes quantity in a more grammatically correct structure.

not as many as for

Provides a clearer comparison of quantity.

a smaller number than for

Highlights the reduced quantity using more explicit language.

less in comparison to

Focuses on the act of comparing two quantities.

lower than for

Indicates a reduced level or degree.

smaller than for

Used when discussing size or scale, not just quantity.

reduced compared to

Highlights the reduction in number or amount.

a decline from that of

Focuses on the decrease relative to a previous amount.

a drop compared to

Specifically emphasizes a downward change.

a decrease relative to

Emphasizes the relativity of the decreased quantity.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "fewer than for"?

Consider using phrases like "less than for" or "not as many as for" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

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

Use "fewer than" to compare countable nouns. For example, "There are fewer apples than oranges." Avoid adding "for" after "than" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Is there a difference between "fewer than" and "less than"?

"Fewer than" is used with countable nouns (e.g., fewer cars) while "less than" is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., less water). Using "fewer than for" is generally considered grammatically incorrect; using just "fewer than" or rephrasing is preferable.

When is it appropriate to use a comparative phrase instead of "fewer than for"?

In most formal writing scenarios, replacing "fewer than for" with a more precise comparative construction enhances readability and credibility. Options include "a smaller number than" or "reduced compared to".