Less and fewer

Less and fewer

The difference

Less is the comparative of little (used especially before uncountable nouns). Fewer is the comparative of few (used before countable plural nouns).

Compare:

• I earn less money than a postman.
• I’ve got fewer problems than I used to have.

Less is quite common before plural nouns, as well as uncountables, especially in an informal style.

• I’ve got less problems than I used to have.

Less/fewer with of and without of

Less of and fewer of are used before determiners (like the, my or this) and pronouns.

• I’d like to spend less of my time answering letters.
• At the college reunions, there are fewer of us each year.

Before nouns without determiners, of is not used.

• If you want to lose weight, eat less food. (NOT …less of food)
• Fewer people make their own bread these days. (NOT Fewer of people …)