Fewer and less are both comparatives, and they both mean a smaller amount. The choice depends on the noun. Fewer goes with things you can count one by one, and less goes with things you measure.
You have fewer emails and less time. You drink fewer cups of coffee and less coffee. The noun after fewer has a plural form, and the noun after less does not.
This page gives the count-and-measure test, the phrases that appear in exams, and 15 sentences to fix the pattern. Every answer explains the noun.
What each word means
fewer
fewer (comparative of few): a smaller number of plural countable nouns. "Fewer students came today."
less
less (comparative of little): a smaller amount of uncountable nouns. Also used before measurements and numbers: "less than five pounds".
The rule
Fewer counts things
- Fewer + plural countable noun: fewer people, fewer books, fewer mistakes, fewer cars.
- The noun ends in -s and you can put a number in front of it: three cars, so fewer cars.
- The question form is how many: "How many emails did you get?" "Fewer than yesterday."
- Fewer than is used with counted items: "Fewer than ten students passed."
Less measures things
- Less + uncountable noun: less water, less sugar, less time, less money, less traffic.
- The noun has no plural and you cannot put a number in front: two waters is wrong, so less water.
- The question form is how much: "How much time do we have?" "Less than an hour."
- Less also goes before adjectives: less expensive, less difficult, less common.
The count-and-measure test
- Can you count it? Use fewer. Can you only measure it? Use less.
- Does the noun have a plural that you can use? Fewer. Does it stay singular? Less.
- With measurements such as money, time, distance and weight, use less even though the unit looks countable: less than £20, less than three hours.
- With a plural noun that names countable items, use fewer even if the number is large: fewer than a thousand people.
Usage notes
- Shops often write "10 items or less". Many people accept it, but careful writers and exams prefer "10 items or fewer".
- In informal speech, less is often used with plural nouns. Keep the formal pattern in writing and exams.
- Less and fewer are also used without a noun when the meaning is clear: "Eat less." "Fewer came than expected."
- Do not use lesser in these phrases. Lesser is a formal adjective meaning not as important: "a lesser-known writer".
How to remember
The trick: If you can count it, use fewer; if you can only measure it, use less. Fewer apples, less milk.
Examples
- Fewer people came than last year.People is countable, so fewer is correct.
- There is less traffic on Sundays.Traffic is uncountable, so less is correct.
- I have fewer meetings this week.Meetings is a plural countable noun.
- Try to eat less sugar.Sugar is uncountable, so the amount takes less.
- This jacket costs less than the other one.Less before an adjective means not as expensive.
- Fewer than ten students passed the test.Students are counted one by one, so fewer is correct.
- We have less time than we thought.Time is measured, not counted, so less is correct.
- She spends less money on clothes now.Money is uncountable, so less is correct.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: There were less people at the party. Right: There were fewer people at the party.
- People is countable, so it takes fewer.
- Wrong: I have fewer money this month. Right: I have less money this month.
- Money is uncountable, so it takes less.
- Wrong: Eat fewer salt. Right: Eat less salt.
- Salt is measured, not counted, so the amount takes less.
- Wrong: There are less cars on the road today. Right: There are fewer cars on the road today.
- Cars is a plural countable noun, so it takes fewer.
- Wrong: He earns fewer than £200 a week. Right: He earns less than £200 a week.
- A sum of money is a measurement, so less than is correct.
Practice drill
Answer all 15 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
There are ___ cars on the road today.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. fewer Cars is a plural countable noun, so the comparative fewer is correct.
I drink ___ coffee than I used to.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. less Coffee is uncountable, so the amount takes less.
___ people came to the meeting than I expected.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Fewer People is countable, so fewer begins the sentence.
We have ___ time than we thought.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. less Time is measured, not counted, so less is correct.
She has ___ friends at her new school.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. fewer Friends is a plural countable noun, so fewer is correct.
Try to eat ___ salt.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. less Salt is uncountable, so the smaller amount takes less.
The traffic is ___ heavy in August.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. less Less goes before an adjective here: less heavy traffic.
There were ___ than twenty people there.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. fewer People are counted, so fewer than is correct.
He earns ___ than £2,000 a month.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. less A sum of money is a measurement, so less than is correct.
I have ___ homework this weekend.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. less Homework is uncountable, so the smaller amount takes less.
This exam has ___ questions than the last one.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. fewer Questions are counted one by one, so fewer is correct.
___ pollution would make the city nicer.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Less Pollution is uncountable, so the smaller amount takes less.
I bought ___ apples than planned.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. fewer Apples are a plural countable noun, so fewer is correct.
There is ___ noise in the countryside.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. less Noise is uncountable, so the amount takes less.
___ than half the class passed the test.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Fewer Students are countable, so fewer than half the class is correct.
Questions learners ask
Why do supermarkets say "10 items or less"?
The sign is old and informal, and millions of shoppers read it every day. Strictly, items can be counted, so "10 items or fewer" is more logical. Both are understood, but exams expect fewer with countable nouns.
Is less with a plural noun always wrong?
Not always in real life. In informal speech, especially in American English, people say "less people" and "less cars". Careful writing keeps fewer for plurals. On this site, follow the traditional rule for exams and formal writing.
Which one goes before than with ages and distances?
Use less than with measurements: less than three hours, less than ten kilometres, less than £50. Use fewer than with counted items: fewer than three people, fewer than ten students. A distance, a period or a sum of money is a measurement, so it takes less.
More confusing words
Lose vs loose
Lose is a verb: to stop having something, or to not win. Loose is an adjective: not tight and not fixed.
Advice vs advise
Advice is the thing you receive. Advise is the action of giving it. The ending sound follows the job: ice for the noun, eyes for the verb.
Weather vs whether
Weather is the condition outside. Whether means if, usually when there are two choices.
Browse all the confusing word pairs or take the free A1 to C2 level test to find your starting point.