less fears

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less fears" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when comparing quantities, but "fears" is a countable noun, and the correct form would be "fewer fears." Example: "After therapy, I have fewer fears about public speaking."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was also hypothesized that young people who used myAssessment would rate themselves as having more control in session, have less fears of judgmental reactions and believe that there was greater time efficiency.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Less fear, more passion.

The Guardian - Opinion

Jonas, however, showed less fear.

The New York Times

"Wherefore, life in prison is less feared.

The New York Times

There is less fear and less chance of a caesarean".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Here there's less rules and less fear.

The New York Times

"Less fear and greed," one reads; "Peace and Love," another.

The New York Times - Arts

There's much less fear among the younger generation".

The Guardian

"Less fear, more aggravation," said Mr. Breaux, Democrat of Louisiana.

The New York Times

There will be less corruption, less manipulation, less fear and more participation".

The New York Times

City sparrows also eat more often and have less fear of predators than their rural counterparts.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When talking about a general feeling, consider "less anxiety" or "reduced anxiety" instead. For example, "Mindfulness practice can lead to less anxiety in daily life."

Common error

Avoid using "less" with countable nouns like "fears". "Less" is for uncountable nouns (e.g., "less water", "less time"). Using "fewer" with countable nouns ensures grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less fears" functions as a noun phrase intended to express a reduction in the quantity of fears experienced. However, as pointed out by Ludwig, the use of "less" with the countable noun "fears" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "fewer fears".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "less fears" aims to express a reduction in fears, it's grammatically questionable. Ludwig highlights that "less" is typically used with uncountable nouns, making "fewer fears" the correct form when referring to countable fears. It’s important to consider using alternatives like "fewer fears", "less anxiety", or similar phrases to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity. Although the phrase appears in various contexts, including news and scientific sources, adhering to standard grammar conventions is recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer fears

Corrects the grammatical error by using "fewer" with the countable noun "fears".

reduced anxieties

Replaces "fears" with "anxieties", a more suitable term when referring to a general state of worry, and uses the adjective 'reduced'.

diminished apprehensions

Uses more formal synonyms to convey a similar meaning of reduced fear or worry.

less anxiety

Focuses on the overall reduction of anxiety, using a more general term.

increased confidence

Shifts the focus to the positive aspect of feeling more secure and self-assured.

greater courage

Highlights the growth in bravery and willingness to face challenges.

more assurance

Emphasizes a feeling of certainty and security, leading to reduced fear.

feeling safer

Directly addresses the sensation of increased security and reduced threat.

alleviated concerns

Conveys a reduction in worries and concerns that contribute to fear.

less worry

Simplifies the expression to indicate a decrease in general worry or unease.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "less fears"?

The grammatically correct way to express a reduction in the number of fears is to use "fewer fears". "Less" is generally used with uncountable nouns, while "fewer" is used with countable nouns like "fears".

What can I say instead of "less fears" to express a reduction in anxiety?

Instead of "less fears", you can use alternatives such as "less anxiety", "reduced anxiety", or "diminished apprehension".

Is "less fears" ever grammatically correct?

No, "less fears" is generally not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is "fewer fears" when referring to specific, countable fears. For a general sense of unease, "less anxiety" is appropriate.

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

"Less" is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., water, time, anxiety), while "fewer" is used with countable nouns (e.g., fears, apples, people). Therefore, the correct phrase is "fewer fears", not "less fears".