You searched for: “less
fewer, less, less
fewer (FYOO uhr) (adjective)
As a comparison, referring to a smaller number of people or things which can be counted, usually combined with the word "than": There were fewer people in the audience than Jesse had expected.

There are fewer fish in the stream this year than last year.

less (LES) (pronoun)
A smaller number or amount: Haley is trying to save more money, and spend less.
less (LES) (adjective)
1. Descriptive of a slighter amount of material in bulk, usually used with "than" in comparisons: There is less sugar in the coffee than yesterday.
2. A reference to abstract situations: It is obvious that there is less honor in business dealings these days; especially, with some banks.
3. Pertaining to matters involving degree and value of a smaller amount or quantity: There is much less purchasing power than in the past because there is less money available for people to use.

Although too many writers and speakers use these words incorrectly, everyone should realize that fewer should refer only to countable numbers or things or to units capable of being counted; as in "The less money there is available, the fewer hamburgers and potato drinks people can buy."

Few means not many; little means not much. Fewer means smaller in number; less means smaller in amount, as in "People have fewer legs than a centipede, but a centipede has less intelligence."

Possibly "a doubtful proposition" according to Willard Espy.

—The last two paragraphs were compiled from
Say It My Way by Willard R. Espy;
Doubleday & Company, Inc; Garden City, New York; 1980; page 192.

If you are still not convinced, then consider the following: Although colloquial English is often different, standard written English uses fewer with things that can be counted and less with things that cannot be counted; for example, fewer people, but less money. It is unacceptable to write less students or less players.

Also, don't write fewer than six weeks because the expression "six weeks" refers to a single period of time, and not a collection of six individual objects; therefore, the required wording is less than six weeks.

—Compiled from information located in
Mind the Gaffe by R.L. Trask; Penguin Books;
New York; 2001; page 126.

In times of economic restraint, there are fewer people investing less of their hard-earned wages when they go out for a coffee. George always asks for less sugar in his coffee than usual so he will gain fewer pounds.

Units related to: “less
(Latin: small, little, less; decline, decrease, diminish; become less, reduce, becoming smaller or shorter)
(Greek: smaller, less, fewer)