rather fewer than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather fewer than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing quantities, indicating that one amount is less than another, but in a somewhat nuanced or understated way. Example: "There are rather fewer than twenty participants in the workshop this year compared to last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In Wayne's world, particularly in big games, there are rather fewer than 50 shades of grey.

The Guardian - Sport

There are still interchanges going on, and in particular the new analysis still has a "last-minute" switch built in as the nearest relatives to Tyrannosaurus itself are actually Asian, but this is rather fewer than before.

The Guardian

These days, I reflect, as I walk from Stowlawn back to the tram stop to take me to Birmingham, I'll bet the smoke particles falling on Bilston amount to rather fewer than 233 elephants per annum.

The Guardian

There are simply too few pro-European Tory voters left for them to be worth fishing for.According to the national opinion polls, rather fewer than one voter in three now say they would vote Conservative in a general election.

The Economist

And space should be found for the only sequential piece of theatre inspired by a cheeky pun: while the Hare trilogy was running at the National, the great theatrical joker Ken Campbell, who had rather fewer than three hairs on his head, declared that his new show for the NT would be called The Bald Trilogy.

The Guardian

This was a million more than the 2.6 million who saw BBC1's Panorama, about terror groups on the Pakistan-Afghan border, but rather fewer than the 9.5 million, a 40% share, who watched Coronation Street at the same time on ITV1.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Still, its competition directorate has rather fewer economists than the American watchdogs.

The Economist

At the same time, turnout is typically some seven points higher in Conservative-held seats, and the party wins rather fewer seats than Labour by small majorities.

The Economist

_____ The February Genius puzzle (No 116 by Qaos) produced rather fewer total entries than of late: 253 by the deadline.

The Guardian

I wrote an article about the rebounding tobacco industry in Zimbabwe, finding that the wealth generated by Zimbabwe's cash crop — about $400 million last year — is now being shared among 60,000 mostly black farmers, rather than fewer than 2,000 white ones.

The New York Times

Among 150,000 couples born between 1800 and 1965, partners who were close relatives had more, rather than fewer, children than average.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "rather" with "slightly", "somewhat", or "considerably" to adjust the emphasis on the difference in quantity, depending on the context.

Common error

Avoid using "rather fewer than" in highly formal or scientific writing where precise numerical comparisons are necessary. Instead, opt for more direct and quantifiable language to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather fewer than" functions as a comparative determiner phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that the quantity of the noun is less than some implicit or explicit standard or comparison point. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Rather fewer than" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express that a quantity is somewhat less than another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for indicating a comparison with a degree of understatement. While it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, it's less common in formal or scientific writing, where more precise language is often preferred. When using this phrase, consider whether a more direct comparison would be more appropriate, especially in situations where numerical accuracy is crucial. If a precise comparison is needed, alternatives like "considerably fewer than" may be more helpful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat fewer than

Indicates a slightly smaller quantity, similar to the original phrase.

slightly fewer than

Emphasizes the small difference in quantity.

a bit fewer than

Informal way of saying a smaller quantity.

marginally fewer than

Highlights that the difference is not significant.

not quite as many as

Expresses a similar idea using a different grammatical structure.

a smaller number than

A more direct way of expressing the same comparison.

comparatively fewer than

Focuses on the comparison between the two quantities.

noticeably fewer than

Indicates the difference is easily observed.

appreciably fewer than

Suggests the difference is substantial.

measurably fewer than

Implies the difference can be quantified.

FAQs

How can I use "rather fewer than" in a sentence?

Use "rather fewer than" to indicate that a quantity is somewhat less than another. For example, "There were "rather fewer than" twenty participants this year" suggests the number was less than expected.

What's a more formal alternative to "rather fewer than"?

In formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "significantly fewer than" or "considerably fewer than" for greater precision. These options provide a clearer sense of the difference in quantity.

Is it ever incorrect to use "rather fewer than"?

While grammatically correct, using "rather fewer than" might be inappropriate in situations requiring precise numerical data. A more specific comparison would be more suitable in such cases.

How does "rather fewer than" compare to "much fewer than"?

"Rather fewer than" implies a smaller difference than "much fewer than". The word "rather" adds a touch of understatement, while "much" indicates a more substantial difference in quantity.