fewer transit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fewer transit" is not correct in standard written English.
The term "fewer" is used with countable nouns, while "transit" in this context is typically uncountable. Example: "We need to ensure there are fewer transit delays during peak hours."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He wondered whether more point-to-point aircraft, a future in which there are fewer transit passengers, changes the game.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Because Kepler-11g orbits its star at a far greater distance than the inner five planets, fewer transits were observed, and radial velocity (the observation of a Doppler effect) interactions could not be easily discerned.

Wikipedia

Heathrow struggles to explain why so many short-haul holiday flights, carrying few transit passengers, still crowd its terminals.

The Guardian - Business

What's gone stale is the enforced marriage with the automobile, a radical monopoly that affords very few transit options for getting to work or to school, to the mall or the beach.

The New York Times

More than a few transit experts felt that he was over the top with harsh criticism of the authority that forced out its last executive director, the able Elliot G. Sander.

The New York Times

And over the last few weeks, transit workers have plastered stations with 17,000 posters.

The New York Times

The discounts are even more generous at the Staten Island crossings, where commuters have the fewest mass transit alternatives.

The New York Times

He added that the authority is one of the few mass transit agencies in the country that doesn't already charge double the base fare; the paratransit systems in Atlanta, Miami, Denver and Philadelphia do.

The New York Times

The few remaining transit providers accumulate large transit volumes and compete for the remaining customers.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

By focusing only on a few select transit systems, this new feature may be a bit too limited, though.

TechCrunch

Because the shop is located in a suburb with few public transit options from the city, Ink180 also operates two mobile tattooing units that regularly travel into Chicago during the warmer months.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to transit as a general concept, use "less" instead of "fewer". For example, say "less transit congestion" rather than "fewer transit congestion".

Common error

Avoid using "fewer" with uncountable nouns like "transit". Instead, use "less". Using "fewer" implies that "transit" is something that can be individually counted, which is often not the case when discussing overall transit volume or activity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fewer transit" functions as a determiner + noun attempting to quantify the amount of transit. Ludwig AI marks this as grammatically questionable, as "transit" is generally treated as an uncountable noun. However, it is used in several contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fewer transit" is used to indicate a reduction or limitation in transit services. However, according to Ludwig AI, its grammatical correctness is questionable because "transit" is usually treated as an uncountable noun and it suggests using "less transit" instead. While the phrase does appear in various sources, including news media and scientific articles, it's crucial to consider using alternatives such as "reduced transit" or "decreased transit" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced transit

Replaces the quantifier "fewer" (for countable nouns) with "reduced", which can be used for uncountable nouns like transit. This is closer to being grammatically acceptable.

less transit

Uses "less" which is typically used for uncountable nouns, offering a grammatically standard alternative to "fewer".

decreased transit

Similar to "reduced transit", "decreased" emphasizes a downward trend or quantity of transit.

a decrease in transit

This phrase uses a noun form to describe a reduction in transit activity.

a decline in transit

Replaces 'decrease' with 'decline', offering a slightly different nuance.

fewer transit options

This version changes the focus to options instead of transit itself. While it alters the meaning somewhat, it maintains a similar sense.

limited transit

Highlights that transit is restricted.

restricted transit

Emphasizes limitations of transit.

scarce transit

Highlights a scarcity of transit.

minimal transit

Suggests that only a very small amount of transit is available.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "fewer transit"?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "fewer transit" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. The term "fewer" is used with countable nouns, while "transit" is typically uncountable. A more appropriate choice would be "less transit".

When should I use "fewer" instead of "less"?

"Fewer" should be used with countable nouns (things you can count individually), while "less" should be used with uncountable nouns (things you can't count individually). For example, "fewer cars" but "less traffic".

What is a good alternative to "fewer transit" that is grammatically correct?

A good alternative would be "reduced transit" or "less transit". These phrases correctly use "reduced" and "less", which are appropriate for uncountable nouns like "transit".

How can I use "transit" correctly in a sentence?

You can use "transit" correctly by making sure it agrees with the quantifier you are using. For example: "There is "less transit" available during off-peak hours" or "We need to improve public transit".