Match Wits With Our Word Wizards
(Illustrated version of Word Wizards)
Shibboleths in English
less, fewer, and lesser
In each sentence, select the best word for formal writing:
- More families today spend (less/fewer) time together at the dinner
table.
- The (less/ fewer /lesser
) you worry, the (less / fewer) your headaches.
- Health Maintenance Organizations allow subscribers (less/fewer) options in choosing where they will be
treated and by whom.
- The professor had (less/fewer) publications than his colleagues.
- The total lower mass results in (less
/fewer) launches required for
delivery.
- Teachers should emphasize that television is of (less/ fewer
/lesser) importance than reading.
- Some health-conscious Americans are revising their old recipes to include
(less/ fewer) sugar and (less/ fewer) high-fat products.
- The ion content is (less/ fewer /lesser
) than 1 percent at energies below 30 eV.
- The (less/ fewer /lesser)
money you receive, the (less/fewer /lesser)
you'll be obligated.
- Many universities now require (less
/ fewer) English classes for
graduation.
- In many November elections, you may have found yourself pondering which
candidate was the (less/ fewer /lesser)
evil.
- These results are similar to those observed in reference 8 but are of (less/ fewer /lesser
magnitude.
- If El Nino brings a warmer than usual Cleveland winter, we'll need (less/ fewer) clothes and (less/fewer
/lesser ) natural gas.
For an explanation of less, fewer, and lesser,
see Quirks of English.