English for Students

Less and Many

Less and Many : When should I use LESS and when should I use FEWER?


Less means not as much. Fewer means not as many.


• A shower takes less water than a bath, so take fewer baths and more showers.


This can be tricky when referring to quantities. For example, we say less than six weeks, NOT fewer than six weeks because we are not referring to six individual weeks, but to a single period of time lasting six weeks.


However, it is always strictly incorrect to refer to less people. People are individuals and come in numbers, not in amounts.


Related Links:


• How do I know when to put An Apostrophe in it's?
• Is it an hour or a hour?
• It is raining. Can this sentence stand alone as grammatically correct?
• Is the word Data singular or plural?

• Is the word Agenda singular or plural?
• Is it acceptable to use THEY instead of HE or SHE?
• Should I use A Singular or A Plural Verb with Collective Nouns?
• Should I write : A Number of People is or A Number of People are?

• What are the Plurals of octopus, hippopotamus and syllabus?
• What is a Split Infinitive and why should I avoid using one?
• The Word for The Whole that is Greater than the sum of the parts is ...
• When should I use LESS and when should I use FEWER?

• Which is correct : a European not an European?
• Which is correct in this sentence : Lay or Lie?
• Which is correct: My Friend and Me or my friend and I?
• Which is the correct spelling : Oriented or Orientated?