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WORDS WORTH KNOWING

Words That Don't Mean What You Think They Mean: FEWER VS. LESS

Jeevan Sivasubramaniam Posted by Jeevan Sivasubramaniam, Vice President, Editorial, Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.



"Fewer" is used when you're talking about an actual number of things and is only used with plural nouns. 

Example: Fewer adults floss daily than they did 20 years ago. (Adults is a plural noun.)

"Less" is used when the amount is undefined and is only used with singular nouns. 

Example: Less than half of adults floss daily. (Half is a singular noun)

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