less businesses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less businesses" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct term should be "fewer businesses" when referring to a countable noun like "businesses." Example: "In the past year, there have been fewer businesses opening in the area due to economic challenges."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

As a result, he said, consumers will spend less, businesses will sell less and hire fewer workers, and the economy will suffer.

The New York Times

Unemployment has soared to 7.2percentt, and some economists predict it could go as high as 9percentt as consumers spend less, businesses trim their work forces and the financial markets remain in turmoil.

The New York Times

Infuriated Republicans describe many of the new rules as unwarranted, resulting in "less jobs, less businesses, less prosperity, lower take-home pay," in the words of the House speaker, Paul D. Ryan.

The New York Times

People start spending less, businesses start losing money, people start getting laid off, people have less to spend and the cycle repeats this can quickly lead to deflation.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

I think they should teach less business.

The New York Times

In northern Mexico, less immigration means less business.

The New York Times

There would be less trade, less investment and less business.

The Guardian

But it may also mean that they get less business.

The New Yorker

For the less business savvy, we need less draconian measures.

The Guardian

It drew 50percentt less business than the average Holmes lecture.

The New Yorker

Suits are still part of the conversation but they're less dressy, less business, less traditional.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider rephrasing to focus on the trend or impact, such as "a decline in business activity" or "reduced business investment" to avoid the need to directly quantify businesses.

Common error

Avoid using "less" when referring to things you can count, like businesses. "Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., less water, less time). Instead, use "fewer" (e.g., fewer businesses, fewer opportunities).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less businesses" functions as a quantifier attempting to describe the number of businesses. However, it is grammatically incorrect because "less" should not be used with countable nouns. Ludwig AI, through its analysis, indicates that the standard form requires the use of "fewer" instead.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less businesses" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct form is "fewer businesses" when referring to a countable number of businesses. The intended purpose is to describe a reduction, but the incorrect usage undermines clarity. To avoid this error, remember that "less" is for uncountable nouns and "fewer" is for countable nouns. Alternate phrases like "decline in businesses" or "reduction in businesses" can also effectively convey the same meaning while maintaining grammatical accuracy. While sources may contain the incorrect phrase, adhering to "fewer" ensures proper usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer businesses

Corrects the grammatical error by using "fewer", which is appropriate for countable nouns.

fewer companies

Uses the synonym "companies" instead of "businesses".

decline in businesses

Rephrases to focus on the trend of decreasing numbers rather than the quantity itself.

reduction in businesses

Emphasizes the act of reducing the number of businesses.

drop in businesses

Informal way of indicating a reduction.

decrease in the number of businesses

More explicit and formal way of expressing the reduction.

contraction of businesses

Uses a more economic or formal term to describe the shrinking of the business sector.

shrinking business sector

Highlights the affected sector rather than just the number of businesses.

a scarcity of businesses

Focuses on the lack of businesses rather than their numerical decrease.

diminished business presence

Emphasizes the decreased visibility or impact of businesses.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "less businesses"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase to use is "fewer businesses". "Less" is used for uncountable nouns, while "fewer" is used for countable nouns.

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

"Less" is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., less water, less time), while "fewer" is used with countable nouns (e.g., "fewer opportunities", fewer businesses). Using "less" with countable nouns is a common grammatical error.

What are some alternative ways to express a reduction in the number of businesses without using "less businesses"?

You can use phrases like "decline in businesses", "reduction in businesses", or "decrease in the number of businesses".

How can I remember when to use "fewer" instead of "less"?

Think of it this way: if you can count the individual items (like businesses), use "fewer." If you're talking about a general quantity that can't be counted individually (like water or effort), use "less".