“Less” and “lesser” might seem similar, but using them correctly can make a huge difference in your writing. Many English learners and even native speakers sometimes mix them up.
Understanding when to use less and when to choose lesser can improve your grammar and communication. In this article, we will explore the difference between less and lesser, break down their correct usage, and give you useful grammar tips for less vs lesser.
Quick Summary
The main difference between less and lesser lies in what they are used to describe. Less is commonly used when talking about quantities or amounts, especially with uncountable nouns.
On the other hand, lesser is used when referring to things like quality, rank, or importance, often describing something of a lower rank or lower quality. This article will give you a more detailed look at both words and how they are used in different contexts.
Understanding Less vs Lesser
When we say less, we are usually referring to a smaller amount or quantity. It’s a determiner, pronoun, or adverb that highlights something being smaller, less significant, or not as much as something else. For example, you might say, “I have less money today,” which means you have a smaller amount of money.
Lesser, however, is an adjective. It’s used before a noun to show something is lower in rank, importance, or quality compared to something else. For instance, you might say, “He received a lesser punishment,” meaning his punishment was not as severe.
Let’s now dive deeper into how less and lesser are used in sentences and explore their meanings in more detail.
Less: Definition and Usage
Less is one of the most common words in English, and it’s used when talking about quantities or amounts. As mentioned before, we use less with uncountable nouns—things that you can’t count individually. For example, you wouldn’t say “two sugars” because sugar is uncountable. You would say “less sugar.”
Here are a few examples of less in action:
- “She drinks less coffee than her brother.”
- “There is less time to finish the project.”
- “I need to spend less money on groceries this month.”
In each of these examples, less is used to refer to quantities of uncountable nouns. When you talk about quantities and amounts, less is the word you want to use.
You might sometimes hear people use less with countable nouns, like “less apples,” but this is actually incorrect. When you’re talking about countable nouns, you should use fewer instead. For example, “I have fewer apples than you.”
5 Synonyms for Less:
- Fewer
- Diminished
- Smaller
- Lower
- Reduced
Lesser: Definition and Usage
Lesser is a word we use to show that something is lower in importance, quality, or rank than something else. Unlike less, which refers to amounts, lesser deals with the comparative degree of something in terms of its rank or significance. It’s an adjective, so it always comes before a noun.
For example, you could say, “The lesser known singer still performed beautifully,” meaning the singer is not as famous as others. Another example might be, “The lesser of two evils,” where you’re saying that one option is of lower quality or importance than another.
Some common mistakes happen when people use lesser in places where less should be used, like when comparing amounts. For instance, the sentence “I have lesser homework than my brother” is incorrect. It should be “I have less homework than my brother,” because less refers to amounts of uncountable nouns.
Here are a few more examples of lesser in sentences:
- “She chose the lesser option because it was safer.”
- “His actions were deemed lesser in importance compared to the others.”
- “They received a lesser reward for their efforts.”
5 Synonyms for Lesser:
- Inferior
- Minor
- Subordinate
- Secondary
- Reduced
Side-by-Side Comparison
To truly understand when to use less and lesser, it’s helpful to compare them directly in similar sentences. This way, you can see how each word functions differently. Here is a comparison to help clarify the difference between less and lesser:
| Usage | Less | Lesser |
| Quantity | “I have less sugar than her.” | – |
| Quality/Rank | – | “He received a lesser punishment.” |
| Comparing Amounts | “She has less time than him.” | – |
| Comparing Importance | – | “She has a lesser role in the project.” |
As you can see, less is used to describe quantities and amounts of uncountable nouns, while lesser is used when talking about rank, importance, or quality.
Everyday Usage Examples
To make it even easier to remember, let’s look at some everyday usage examples. These examples show how both less and lesser can be used in regular conversations.
Less:
- “I have less patience than I used to.” (Talking about an uncountable quantity of patience)
- “I drink less water in the winter.” (A smaller amount of an uncountable quantity)
Lesser:
- “The lesser of two options was to take the train.” (Comparing the importance or rank of two options)
- “I took the lesser known route to avoid traffic.” (Talking about the importance or recognition of a route)
FAQs: Less vs Lesser
You might have a few lingering questions about less vs lesser, so let’s answer some of the most frequently asked ones.
Can I use “lesser” with “than”?
No, you should not use lesser with “than.” Less is used in comparisons with “than” (e.g., “I have less money than him”).
When do I use “less” for comparisons of quality?
Less is used for uncountable nouns when referring to quantities. For example, “I have less interest in sports.”
Can I use “less” and “lesser” interchangeably?
No, they are not interchangeable. Use less for quantities and lesser for rank, importance, or quality.
Conclusion
Now that you understand the correct usage of less and lesser, you can confidently use these words in your writing and speaking. Less is your go-to word when comparing quantities or amounts with uncountable nouns, while lesser works best when you’re talking about something of lower rank, importance, or quality. With these grammar tips for less vs lesser, you’re on your way to mastering these two words and improving your overall English sentence structure.
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