many fewer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'many fewer' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiom used to compare two unequal amounts or numbers. For example: This year, we have seen many fewer tourists compared to last year.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Other airlines have cancelled many fewer flights.

Independent

BlackBerry, as usual, has many fewer options.

The New York Times - Tech

There were so many fewer risks.

The New Yorker

Arab adults are having many fewer kids.

The New York Times

Gibbs conducts many fewer such meetings.

The New Yorker

Many fewer were taking vacations".

The New York Times - Sports

The result has been many fewer encounters.

The New York Times

Why do they do so many fewer?

The New York Times

For one thing, it has produced many fewer jobs.

The Economist

In particular, it hears many fewer criminal and commercial cases.

The New York Times

There would then probably be many fewer complaints.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "many fewer" when you want to compare two quantities and emphasize that one is significantly smaller than the other.

Common error

Avoid using "less" with countable nouns. "Fewer" is the correct term to use. For example, say "many fewer cars" instead of "many less cars".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "many fewer" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying and modifying a noun to indicate a smaller number or amount when compared to something else. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a standard English idiom used for comparisons.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "many fewer" is a grammatically sound and widely used idiom in the English language, employed to express that one quantity is significantly less than another. As verified by Ludwig, it is correct and suitable for various contexts. Predominantly found in "News & Media" and "Science", its usage spans from formal to informal settings. Remember to use "fewer" with countable nouns, and consider alternatives like "a smaller number of" or "significantly less" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably fewer

Emphasizes the large difference in quantity.

noticeably fewer

Highlights the evident reduction in number.

a smaller number of

A more direct way of stating a reduced quantity.

distinctly less

Emphasizes the clear difference in quantity.

significantly less

Emphasizes the difference in amount.

a reduced quantity of

A more formal way of expressing a smaller amount.

substantially decreased

Focuses on the significant drop in amount.

considerably reduced

Highlights the reduction in quantity.

appreciably lower

Indicates a noticeable decrease.

markedly diminished

Stresses the noticeable decrease.

FAQs

How do I use "many fewer" in a sentence?

Use "many fewer" to indicate that the quantity of something is significantly reduced compared to something else. For example, "There are "many fewer cars" on the road today than there were twenty years ago".

What's the difference between "many fewer" and "much less"?

"Many fewer" is used for countable nouns (things you can count individually), while "much less" is used for uncountable nouns (things you can't count individually). For example, "many fewer students" versus "much less water".

What can I say instead of "many fewer"?

You can use alternatives like "a smaller number of", "significantly less", or "considerably reduced" depending on the context.

Is it ever correct to say "many less" instead of "many fewer"?

No, "many less" is grammatically incorrect when referring to countable nouns. The correct phrase is "many fewer". "Less" should only be used with uncountable nouns.