require fewer than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "require fewer than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when specifying a quantity that is less than a certain number, often in contexts such as requirements, needs, or conditions. Example: "The project requires fewer than ten volunteers to be successful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Shake it all out and it is likely that it will require fewer than 300,000 people to choose the winner in the Republican primary.

The New York Times

Students who are in their last semester and require fewer than 10 units to complete their degree may be allowed to enroll in a minimum of 9 units with the Dean of Students' approval.

University of California, Berkeley

The 825-foot arshipl ship, as its Navy designers call it, might require fewer than 20 people to operate, compared with the 5,000 aboard a 1,040-foot 1,040-foot

The New York Times

Dr. Rayman said Deep Space 1 would require fewer than a dozen controllers on Earth, instead of the hundreds needed for some previous missions, because it would keep track of itself.

The New York Times - Science

She needs just a bare majority of Democrats to become minority leader, and she can count on the support of more than 30 other Californians in a contest that will require fewer than 100 votes for victory.

The Washington Post

If Mr. Hayes ran as an in dependent, which would require fewer than 10,000 petition sig natures, he would probably only help to elect Mr. Davis, be cause he and Mr. O'Brien would tend to draw from the same pool of votes.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Output that used to take 100 people in 1990 required fewer than 20 in 2008.

The Economist

The cost of constructing the expedient configurations was less than US$2,300 and required fewer than 3 person-hours to construct.

Annals of Emergency Medicine

To begin with, the government bought 40 acres from a private landowner for a tower that requires fewer than five acres.

Los Angeles Times

In general, the GPD approximation usually requires fewer than 1/ Pperm permutations, while estimation using the ECDF always requires more than 1/ Pperm permutations.

Bioinformatics

In some cases, the new modules proved to require fewer operations than the old.

Journal of Computational Physics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "require fewer than", ensure the noun you are quantifying is countable. For uncountable nouns, use "require less than" instead.

Common error

Avoid using "less" when referring to countable items. "Fewer" is the correct term for countable nouns; for instance, use "require fewer than ten volunteers" not "require less than ten volunteers".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "require fewer than" functions as a comparative determiner phrase, specifying a quantity that is less than a given number. It's used to express that something necessitates a smaller amount of a countable resource. Ludwig shows examples in varied domains.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "require fewer than" is a comparative phrase used to indicate that something necessitates less than a specified number of countable items. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and academia. Remembering to use "fewer" with countable nouns and to employ appropriate alternatives such as "need fewer than" can enhance the precision and style of your writing. The phrase's relatively uncommon frequency suggests it's used in specific situations where quantifying a reduced need is relevant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

require less than

Replaces "fewer" with "less", suitable when referring to non-countable nouns or abstract concepts.

need fewer than

Substitutes "require" with "need", offering a more informal tone.

demand less than

Emphasizes a stronger necessity, replacing "require" with "demand".

necessitate fewer than

Replaces "require" with "necessitate", increasing the formality of the statement.

call for fewer than

Substitutes "require" with "call for", indicating a recommendation or suggestion.

entail fewer than

Replaces "require" with "entail", emphasizing the consequences or implications.

involve fewer than

Focuses on the components or elements involved, replacing "require" with "involve".

mandate fewer than

Substitutes "require" with "mandate", implying a formal or legal requirement.

stipulate fewer than

Replaces "require" with "stipulate", emphasizing a condition or agreement.

ask for fewer than

Substitutes "require" with "ask for", making the request sound more polite or gentle.

FAQs

How to use "require fewer than" in a sentence?

Use "require fewer than" when indicating that something needs less than a specified number of countable items. For example, "The project will "require fewer than" five employees to complete".

What can I say instead of "require fewer than"?

You can use alternatives like "need fewer than", "demand less than", or "necessitate fewer than" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "require fewer than" or "require less than"?

"Require fewer than" is correct when referring to countable nouns, while "require less than" should be used with uncountable nouns or abstract quantities. For example, "We "require fewer than" resources" is incorrect.

What's the difference between "require fewer than" and "require less than"?

The distinction lies in the type of noun being modified. "Fewer" is used with countable nouns (e.g., "require fewer than five steps"), while "less" is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., "require less effort").