Many times, people often mistakenly use few and less interchangeably
in sentences in ways that are incorrect grammar usage. So, what is the difference between few vs.
less anyway?
While both are used to quantify small number of things, according
to grammar usage, there are differences in their usage.
Few: is used in numbers or items that can be
counted individually. It often quantifies smaller numbers or individual items
and modifies plural nouns. It is often
considered redundant to use fewer in number or people (see example).
Examples:
Incorrect:
The supermarket checkout sign that says “10 items or less.”
Correct:
The supermarket checkout sign says “10 items or fewer.”
Incorrect:
There are fewer in number of people present in the meeting today.
Correct:
There are fewer people present in the meeting today.
Less: is
used more on quantifying bulk or quantities of a certain degree that are not
countable and modifies singular mass nouns and collective nouns. Less is also used to express mass terms or to
denote things of certain measurable extent or degree. It is also used to denote
a measure of an amount, time and distance.
Examples:
Cynthia
needs less advice and more help with her assignments.
Jacob
needs to pay Sarah less than $100 before he can join in the vacation in less
than four weeks.
Sometimes it can get rather tricky when expressing
quantities using few vs. less. Example:
a project is due in less than 4 weeks not fewer than 4 weeks. This is because the
reference is for a single period of time that lasts for 4 weeks rather than individual
4 weeks.
In formal usage, to emphasize plural nouns, ‘less’
can be used even though ‘few’ should formally be the correct
usage. Example: The professor expected the students to write a
paper on any healthcare issues in 1,500 words or less.
Take home points:
General simple rule for using few vs. less: less means “not as much”
and few
means “not as many.”
Less friends, few drama.
Keep your circle small. –Author
unknown.
