fewer or less? The general rule is to use fewer with plural nouns (fewer people, fewer books) and less with singular nouns (less time, less work, less sugar). More precisely, fewer is used with people or things that can be counted (fewer than 100 people came to the meeting) and less is used with quantities and numbers that give a quantity or size: less than two years ago. The use of less with plural nouns should be avoided: fewer opportunities, not less opportunities. This incorrect usage is, however, frequently found in informal contexts