Less and Fewer
Writers often misuse the words 'less' and 'fewer'. The word 'less' should be used for a single item (e.g.,
less time); whereas, 'fewer' should be used when there is more than one item (e.g.,
fewer mice).
Examples:
 There is less cheese on this plate.
(cheese - singular)
There are fewer pieces of cheese on this plate.
(pieces - plural)
There are less pigeons in Trafalgar Square than there used to be.
In the future, there will be less coins in circulation.
Fewer people will vote in the forthcoming elections.
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AMOUNT AND NUMBER
Like 'less', the words 'amount' should be used with a single item; whereas, the word
'number' should be used when there is more than one.
 A large amount of people.
("people" - more than one person)
A large number of people.
At that stage, a huge amount of sugar and a vast
number of chocolate buttons are poured in and stirred. There is a short wait and
then a seemingly infinite number of chocolates whiz along the conveyer
belt.
See the lesson Amount,
quantity and number.
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