less customers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'less customers' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when comparing two or more groups or sets of customers, usually with reference to quantity. For example: The restaurant has seen less customers since the outbreak of COVID-19.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"We are getting 50 percent less customers".

The New York Times

Exemptions would help banks protect their profits — the less transparent the trades, the less customers can comparison shop.

The New York Times

But there will most likely be a lot less customers for him in the years to come.

The New York Times

It appeared that the CPV is among some of those technologies which gained very little attention of people, with less customers and market.

Applied Energy

A fruit vendor in Shoubaozhuang who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, said he had had a few less customers since the enclosure policy was instituted, but also realized the benefits of having a security guard living next door.

The New York Times

"From a business perspective," adds Unruh, "when your sustainability performance indicator only improves the less customers use your product - drink less, smoke less, wager less - you are in a dubious position".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Other techno-features require less customer participation.

The New York Times - Style

"We need to make setup less customer-centric and more automatic".

The New York Times - Tech

Some users who are not very profitable for AOL may receive less customer service.

The New York Times

Centralisation, government targets and a focus on exams have made state schools less customer-friendly and more boring.

The Economist

Judges quickly decided that those factors, including such determinations as having "significantly less customer activity in the nonadult section," were grossly subjective and essentially useless.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a decrease in the number of customers, consider whether "fewer customers" might be grammatically more appropriate, as "customers" is a countable noun.

Common error

Avoid using "less customers" when referring to a quality or attribute associated with customers (e.g., "less satisfaction"). In these cases, "lower" or "decreased" are often better choices.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less customers" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It quantifies and describes a reduction in the number of customers. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability in English. It expresses a comparative state, indicating a decrease from a previous number or expected amount.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less customers" is widely used to describe a decrease in customer numbers, the grammatically precise alternative is "fewer customers". Ludwig AI confirms that it is usable in English. It's prevalent in news and media contexts, often used to explain business trends or the impact of external factors. Although "fewer" is technically correct for countable nouns like "customers", "less" is often used colloquially and is generally understood. When writing, consider your audience and the desired level of formality. For formal documents, "fewer customers" is recommended, but "less customers" remains acceptable in many other situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer customers

Replaces "less" with "fewer", which is grammatically more precise for countable nouns like "customers".

fewer clients

Substitutes "customers" with "clients," implying a more professional relationship.

decreasing customers

Uses a verb form to emphasize the ongoing reduction in the number of customers.

lower customer base

Focuses on the overall customer base being at a reduced level.

reduced clientele

Uses a more formal term, "clientele", to indicate a smaller number of customers.

decline in customers

Emphasizes the downward trend in customer numbers.

shrinking customer base

Uses "shrinking" to convey a gradual reduction in the number of customers.

diminished customer traffic

Highlights the reduction in customer activity or visits.

a drop in customers

Expresses a sudden or noticeable reduction in customer numbers.

a fall in customers

Indicates a decrease in customer numbers, using the word "fall".

FAQs

How can I use "less customers" in a sentence?

You can use "less customers" to describe a decrease in the number of people buying products or services, for example, "The store experienced "less customers" during the off-season".

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

"Less" is typically used with uncountable nouns, while "fewer" is used with countable nouns. Since "customers" is countable, "fewer customers" is generally considered more grammatically correct, though "less customers" is commonly used.

What are some alternatives to saying "less customers"?

You could use phrases like "decreasing customers", "reduced clientele", or "decline in customers" depending on the context.

Is "less customers" grammatically correct?

While "fewer customers" is technically more accurate, "less customers" is frequently used in everyday language and is generally understood. It is considered acceptable in many contexts.