less bugs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less bugs" is not correct in standard written English; it should be "fewer bugs." You can use it when discussing a reduction in the number of bugs, typically in a software or environmental context.
Example: "We need to implement better testing procedures to ensure there are fewer bugs in the final product."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"In the meantime, I'd rather have less Bugs and have him be Bugs than have more Bugs and have him do bogus stuff".

The New York Times

The WebRTC standard gives significantly better call and video quality than Flash — with less bugs.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But with mosquitoes stalking the berry pickers, and with ticks infecting three friends recently with Lyme disease, it seemed a good time to make my yard less bug-friendly.

The New York Times

He appears only during Kinky Afro and Step On, loping across the stage and rattling his maracas – still nominally mad for it, but with a good deal less bug-eyed fervour than before.

The Guardian - Music

Considering the profound lack of commercial and strategic partnerships in my life, I settled on MailTrack, which A) had a reassuringly bland, distinctly less bugged eyed stalker vibe than its competitors, and B) was free.

Vice

It could for instance be the case that less severe bugs are put on hold for some time at times when efforts need to be devoted to severer bugs or other tasks.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

And anecdotal evidence suggests that better health has made Morogoro and Rufiji less poor.Fewer bugs, more bikesRain falls in booming cascades on Melela, a village near Morogoro.

The Economist

But are we more or less like bugs for thinking that, surely, there is still a difference between justice and revenge, and human and animal behavior?

The New York Times

The incidents and a spate of other accidents and near-misses revealed through public records requests by the Sunshine Project, an activist group in Austin, Texas, have raised concerns about safety and security at biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) labs, which study deadly pathogens for which there is no treatment, as well as biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) labs, which handle less risky bugs.

Science Magazine

Google gives software companies 60 days to patch less serious bugs.

Huffington Post

These are the kind that I am more than happy to be roommates with as long as they hold up their end of the bargain by eating less friendly bugs.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to reduce the quantity of countable items like bugs, use "fewer" instead of "less" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "less" when referring to countable nouns like bugs. "Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., less water, less time). Always use "fewer" for countable items.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less bugs" functions as a comparative expression intending to denote a smaller quantity of defects or issues. However, Ludwig AI points out that it's grammatically incorrect in standard English, which prefers "fewer bugs" when referring to countable items.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less bugs" might be understood in casual conversation, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct form is "fewer bugs", as 'bugs' are countable. Although found in diverse sources like news and science, it's crucial to use "fewer" in formal writing. Remember to use "fewer" for countable nouns and "less" for uncountable ones. Alternatives like "reduced bugs" or "minimize bugs" can also effectively convey your meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer bugs

Replaces "less" with "fewer" to correct the grammatical error when referring to countable items.

reduced bugs

Emphasizes a decrease in the number of bugs, focusing on the outcome.

minimize bugs

Suggests an action to reduce the number of bugs to the lowest possible level.

decrease bugs

Focuses on lowering the quantity of bugs present.

lower bugs

Implies bringing down the count of bugs.

less buggy

Changes from a quantity to a descriptor, indicating a state of having fewer bugs.

mitigate bugs

Focuses on reducing the impact or severity of bugs.

alleviate bugs

Suggests relieving or easing the problems caused by bugs.

address bugs

Highlights taking action to fix or resolve the bugs.

resolve bugs

Emphasizes the successful fixing of bugs to eliminate issues.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "less bugs"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "fewer bugs". "Less" is used for uncountable nouns, while "fewer" is used for countable nouns like "bugs".

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

"Less bugs" is grammatically incorrect because "bugs" are countable. The phrase "fewer bugs" is correct, as "fewer" is used for countable items.

How can I rephrase "less bugs" to be grammatically correct?

You can use the phrase "fewer bugs". Alternatively, you could say "reduced bugs" to emphasize the decrease.

When should I use "less" vs. "fewer"?

Use "less" with uncountable nouns (e.g., less water, less time) and "fewer" with countable nouns (e.g., fewer bugs, fewer people).