In general, use “fewer” with things you can count (like medications, symptoms, and Qbank questions) and “less” with things you can’t count (like amounts and mass nouns, such as food and water). Here are some examples:<\/p>\n\n\n
I completed fewer<\/span> AANP practice questions last night than I did the night before. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n AANP practice questions are countable\u2014you know how many of them you have, so use “fewer.”<\/p>\n\n\n He drank less<\/span> water before his surgery shelf exam. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Water isn’t countable\u2014it’s an amount, so you should use “less.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s simple enough. But what about things we measure?<\/p>\n\n\n The lesions are [less<\/span>\/fewer<\/span>] than 3 cm in diameter. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Technically, centimeters are countable. So shouldn\u2019t we use \u201cfewer\u201d? No. This is an exception (English is complicated!). Measurements (e.g., time, distance, money) typically use \u201cless.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n The lesions are less<\/span> than 3 cm in diameter. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Your turn! Try this one:<\/p>\n\n\n The hospital has just purchased a new proton beam purported to deliver targeted radiation with [less<\/span>\/fewer<\/span>] side effects than traditional radiation therapy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Side effects are countable\u2014use \u201cfewer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n