Fewer vs Less
What's the difference?
Both mean "a smaller amount," but English picks between them based on whether you can count what you're talking about.
Quick answer
Use fewer for things you can count one by one (fewer bottles), and less for things you can't (less water). If the word has a plural, use fewer.
Compared side by side
(adjective) a smaller number of things you can count individually.
- “Fewer cars were on the road this morning.”
- “She made fewer mistakes this time.”
- “There are fewer students in the advanced class.”
(adjective) a smaller amount of something you can't count.
- “There is less traffic today.”
- “I have less time than I thought.”
- “Add less salt next time.”
How to remember it
If you can put a number in front of it (three bottles), use FEWER. If you can't (some water), use LESS.
Frequently asked
What about "less than 10 minutes"?
Money, time, and distance are treated as single amounts, so "less" is fine: "less than 10 minutes," "less than $20." For countable objects, use "fewer than 10 items."
Is "less people" wrong?
In careful writing, yes — people are countable, so "fewer people" is preferred. You'll hear "less people" in speech, but "fewer" is the safer choice.