less questions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less questions" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form is "fewer questions," as "questions" is a countable noun. Example: "I would appreciate it if you could provide fewer questions in your feedback."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

I do feel like when I'm in Europe I get way less questions about nudity.

The Guardian

We need to be asked less questions in the try-saving department".

Independent

"They're acting like immigration, but I think immigration would ask you less questions".

The New York Times

I've only known a few weeks and I didn't want to disrupt the team, so I thought if we could announce it the week before the last home game there'd be less questions.

The Guardian - Sport

The increase in earnings due to skipping less questions is very similar for males and females when we control for PIAAC score in numeracy (between 2 and 3.5%, due to a decrease of one standard deviation in the proportion of skipped questions).

SERIEs

Interestingly enough, God seems to be the answer to less and less questions.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

It seems simpler and less question-begging to say that we keep on working long hours and buying lots of stuff because, whatever the ultimate cause, we take less satisfaction in the occupations of non-commercial leisure.(Photo credit: AFP).

The Economist

But a more illuminating and less question-begging way of proceeding would be to ask how this goal relates to other epistemic values.

SEP

See related research by Shulman et al., That tight glycaemic control in critical care saves lives is increasingly less questioned.

Critical Care

From analysis of the online questionnaire, practitioners indicated that they wished to include more detail in the language used on the problem list than less (Question #10).

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Questions 1, 2, and 10 were less sensitive questions, and they were included to identify reticence in the sample.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "fewer questions" instead of "less questions". "Fewer" is for countable nouns (like questions), while "less" is for uncountable nouns (like water or time).

Common error

Avoid using "less" before countable nouns. The correct term for quantifying countable items such as "questions" is "fewer". For example, say "I have fewer questions" not "I have less questions".

Linguistic Context

Quantifier phrase: While intending to express a reduced amount, the phrase functions incorrectly due to the misuse of 'less' with the countable noun 'questions'. Grammatically, it attempts to modify the noun 'questions', which requires the quantifier 'fewer' instead. As Ludwig AI points out, using 'less' with countable nouns is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

42%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "less questions" appears relatively frequently, it's crucial to recognize that it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "fewer questions", as "questions" is a countable noun. Ludwig AI confirms this distinction, emphasizing that "less" should be reserved for uncountable nouns. Despite its common usage, particularly in News & Media and Scientific contexts, adhering to the correct grammar enhances clarity and professionalism. Remember, opting for "fewer questions" or alternatives like "a smaller number of questions" ensures your writing is both accurate and effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fewer questions

Uses the correct quantifier "fewer" for countable nouns.

a smaller number of questions

Rephrases the idea using "number" instead of "less" to quantify questions.

a reduced number of inquiries

Uses "inquiries" as a synonym for questions and employs "number" for correct quantification.

a decline in the volume of queries

Employs "volume" to indirectly refer to the quantity of questions, phrasing it more formally.

a scarcity of questions

Highlights the lack of questions using "scarcity".

a lower amount of questioning

Focuses on the act of questioning and uses "amount" to suggest a smaller degree.

a lighter questioning load

Uses "load" metaphorically to describe the amount of questioning.

a curtailed number of interrogations

Employs the formal term "interrogations" and quantifies it correctly with "number".

a dearth of queries

Uses the word "dearth" to emphasize the scarcity of questions.

a minimal number of questions

Highlights the very small quantity of questions asked.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "less questions"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. "Questions" is a countable noun, so you should use "fewer" instead of "less". The correct phrase is "fewer questions".

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

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

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

You can use phrases like "fewer questions", a smaller number of questions, or a reduced number of inquiries to express the same idea correctly.

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

Use "less" for things you can't count individually (e.g., less sugar, less effort). Use "fewer" for things you can count (e.g., "fewer questions", fewer problems).