You should use less to show a smaller amount of non-countable things.

Less or fewer? That tiny pair of words trips up writers all the time. Here’s a straightforward, human-friendly way to keep them straight, plus a handful of real-life examples you can actually use in everyday writing. And yes, you’ll see this distinction pop up in standard grammar checks and in tests like the Accuplacer—so getting it right feels both practical and a little satisfying.

Let me explain the core idea in one line: use less for things you can’t count individually, and use fewer for things you can count. Simple, right? Well, the English language loves to complicate simple things with rules, exceptions, and a few gray areas. So we’ll walk through the rule, see it in action, and then I’ll throw in a couple of quick practice prompts so you can hear the rule in your own ear.

Countable vs. non-countable nouns: the big distinction

• Countable nouns are things you can count. Apples, cars, ideas, questions—one, two, three.

• Non-countable (mass) nouns are things you don’t typically count one by one. Water, sand, sugar, time, rain, happiness, courage, music.

That distinction isn’t just pedantry. It shapes meaning. If you say “less apples,” you imply a way of reducing something you can count—but in standard usage, that sounds off. If you mean a smaller number of apples, you’d say “fewer apples.” If you mean a smaller amount of the substance itself, you’d say “less sugar,” “less water,” or “less bread.”

So where does less fit in?

• Use less with non-count nouns and abstract quantities. Think of measurements, amounts, qualities, or concepts that aren’t stepped off in discrete units.

• Examples: less water, less time, less sugar, less noise, less luck, less effort.

• Use less with adjectives and adverbs when you’re reducing degree or extent. For instance:

• “The project felt less ambitious this time.”

• “She spoke less quickly after the break.”

• You can also see less in price or money expressions, where the idea is a decrease in an amount, not discrete units:

• “We spent less money this month.”

A few practical examples to lock the rule in

• Non-count nouns:

• There is less rain than last year.

• I have less time to spare today.

• We need less noise during the meeting.

• Add less sugar to the recipe.

• With adjectives/adverbs:

• It’s less complicated to do it this way.

• He listened less attentively than before.

• Comparatives:

• This route is less scenic, but faster.

• That option feels less risky.

And a small caveat about “money”

• Money is a tricky one. In many everyday contexts, people say “less money” and that’s perfectly acceptable, especially when you’re talking about amounts in general. If you’re speaking precisely about individual units (dollars, coins), you’ll often hear or see “fewer dollars.” In formal writing, you’ll probably favor “fewer dollars” when the focus is on countable units; with broad, non-countable talk about money as a lumped quantity, “less money” fits just fine.

When to use fewer

• Fewer is your friend for countable nouns. If you can count the items, use fewer.

• Examples: fewer apples, fewer pages, fewer questions, fewer minutes.

• The structure “fewer than” is common for comparisons:

• “Fewer than ten people attended.”

• “There are fewer choices this year.”

A few everyday traps and how to avoid them

• The grocery-store gray area: less than 10 items vs fewer than 10 items

• The rule is clear, but usage varies in everyday speech. In strict grammar, you’d say “fewer than 10 items.” In many stores, you’ll still hear “less than 10 items” and most readers will understand. If you want to be precise, go with fewer.

• When counting with measurements:

• “Less than three inches of rain” is fine, because inches are a unit you can count, but the rain itself is a measure. If you’re counting the actual objects, switch to fewer: “fewer than three inches of rain” would still be unusual; you’d more likely say “less than three inches of rain” or discuss the amount of rain as a measure, not countable units.

• Abstract qualities get tricky:

• “Less experience” is correct when you’re talking about a non-countable quality.

• “Fewer experiences” would be used if you’re counting distinct experiences someone had.

A mini-practice set (try these in your own head or on paper)

• Choose less or fewer:

1. There is (less / fewer) rain today than yesterday.

2. We have (less / fewer) opportunities this semester.

3. She’s showing (less / fewer) patience with the situation.

4. The recipe calls for (less / fewer) salt.

5. He has (less / fewer) books than his sister.

6. There is (less / fewer) traffic near the old bridge.

Tip: remember the rule, then listen

• Read aloud and listen for rhythm. If the word sounds like you’re reducing something you can point to with your fingers, you probably want fewer. If it’s a mass, temperature, time, or a qualitative degree, less is your word.

• When in doubt, swap out the noun in your sentence with a clearly countable item (like “apples”) and see if the sentence still sounds right. If the number matters (countable), you should use fewer; if you’re reducing a quantity or quality, less is likely correct.

A quick guide you can keep on a sticky note

• Use less for:

• Non-count nouns: less water, less time, less sand

• Qualities and degrees: less interest, less urgency, less talent

• Adverbs and adjectives that express degree: less quickly, less important

• Use fewer for:

• Countable nouns: fewer apples, fewer pages, fewer ideas

• Quantities that can be counted: fewer dollars, fewer minutes, fewer errors

• A common crossover area: “less than” when talking about a quantity that isn’t easily counted; “fewer than” for discrete items.

Why this matters beyond grammar nerd-dom

Clear language helps you get your point across faster. In writing, the difference between a “smaller amount” and a “smaller number” isn’t just a grammar checkbox—it's a signal to your reader about what’s being reduced. If you’re drafting instructions, memos, or even blog posts, using the right form reduces friction and makes your meaning pop. That’s the kind of polish that readers notice, subconsciously, and it adds up over time.

A few more thoughts to keep the flow natural

• People often mix up the two when they’re in a hurry. If you notice yourself saying “less books,” stop, reset, and swap in “fewer.” Your future self will thank you.

• It’s OK to use “less” with money in casual writing, but if you’re aiming for formal precision, consider “fewer dollars” when you’re counting currency as individual units.

• Don’t be afraid to lean on dictionaries for tough edge cases. Resources like Merriam-Webster, Cambridge, or the Purdue OWL can help you see how usage shifts with context.

Bringing it home

The way you choose less or fewer says something about how you see the world on the page. It’s a small choice, but it shapes clarity and tone. When you’re painting with language, think about whether you’re counting items or measuring a quantity or quality. If it’s countable, reach for fewer. If it’s not, reach for less. With a little practice, that distinction becomes almost second nature—like spotting a pothole in a familiar street and steering around it without looking twice.

If you’re ever unsure, a quick test helps: replace the noun with a clearly countable item, then listen. If the sentence still works with a countable noun, you’re leaning toward fewer. If it sounds better as a mass or measure, less is the right move.

Final takeaway

Less and fewer aren’t just trivia; they’re tools that sharpen your writing. They help you encode exact meaning, limit ambiguity, and keep your reader moving smoothly from one idea to the next. So next time you’re drafting something short—an email, a note, a paragraph for class or a quick read—pause at the moment you reach for less or fewer. Ask yourself: am I reducing a count, or am I reducing a quantity or quality? Your answer will usually be right, and your writing will feel a notch more precise and confident.