{"id":83,"date":"2015-07-21T18:59:05","date_gmt":"2015-07-21T18:59:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/styleforstudents\/?post_type=chapter&p=83"},"modified":"2015-07-21T18:59:05","modified_gmt":"2015-07-21T18:59:05","slug":"few-less","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-styleforstudents-1\/chapter\/few-less\/","title":{"raw":"Few \/ Less","rendered":"Few \/ Less"},"content":{"raw":"
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\r\n\r\nBoth these words are adjectives, but \u201cfew\u201d is usually used to describe countable nouns while \u201cless\u201d is used to describe noncountable nouns. Countable nouns are often physical whereas noncountable ones are often abstract or nonphysical:\r\n
The industrial trend is in the direction of more machines and fewer people. (\u201cPeople\u201d are countable.)\r\n\r\nLess destruction was caused by the earthquake than one would have expected. (\u201cDestruction\u201d is noncountable.)<\/blockquote>\r\nIf you memorize the phrase \u201cfew units = less quantity,\u201d you will remember the distinction\u2014\u201cfew\u201d is for countables occurring in units, while \u201cless\u201d is for noncountables occurring in quantity.\r\n\r\nAs often happens in English, exceptions do arise. Sentences involving periods of time, sums of money, or specific measurements usually require \u201cless\u201d:\r\n
The sonde was lowered less than 50 feet.\r\n\r\nExcavation took less than two weeks.<\/blockquote>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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Both these words are adjectives, but \u201cfew\u201d is usually used to describe countable nouns while \u201cless\u201d is used to describe noncountable nouns. Countable nouns are often physical whereas noncountable ones are often abstract or nonphysical:<\/p>\n

The industrial trend is in the direction of more machines and fewer people. (\u201cPeople\u201d are countable.)<\/p>\n

Less destruction was caused by the earthquake than one would have expected. (\u201cDestruction\u201d is noncountable.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you memorize the phrase \u201cfew units = less quantity,\u201d you will remember the distinction\u2014\u201cfew\u201d is for countables occurring in units, while \u201cless\u201d is for noncountables occurring in quantity.<\/p>\n

As often happens in English, exceptions do arise. Sentences involving periods of time, sums of money, or specific measurements usually require \u201cless\u201d:<\/p>\n

The sonde was lowered less than 50 feet.<\/p>\n

Excavation took less than two weeks.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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