Difference Between Fewer and Less

Learn when to use fewer vs less with the simple countable vs uncountable rule.

2 min read

Quick Answer

Use fewer for things you can count individually (fewer apples, fewer people, fewer dollars). Use less for quantities you measure as a whole (less water, less time, less money). Simple test: if you can put a number before it, use fewer. Exceptions exist for time, money, and distance even when specific numbers are used.

Key Takeaways

Fewer is for countable nouns - things that exist as discrete, individual units.
Grocery store '10 items or less' signs are technically incorrect but universally used and accepted.
When in doubt with ambiguous words, consider whether you would use 'many' (fewer) or 'much' (less).

Explanation

Fewer is for countable nouns - things that exist as discrete, individual units. You can have 1, 2, 3, or more of them. Examples: fewer calories, fewer mistakes, fewer cars, fewer employees, fewer than ten items. Each item can be counted separately.

Less is for uncountable (mass) nouns - things measured as a continuous quantity rather than individual units. Examples: less sugar, less traffic, less information, less effort, less noise. You measure amounts rather than count items.

Common exceptions: time, money, and distance often use 'less' even with specific numbers because we think of them as continuous measurements. 'Less than five minutes,' 'less than $20,' and 'less than two miles' are all standard, though grammatical purists might argue for 'fewer.'

Things to Know

Grocery store '10 items or less' signs are technically incorrect but universally used and accepted.
When in doubt with ambiguous words, consider whether you would use 'many' (fewer) or 'much' (less).
The same count/non-count distinction applies to many/much and few/little.