Difference between fewer, lesser and lower

by **Blythegirl** Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:42 am

Can anyone explain for me? Thx in advance. :D

by **Nauman** Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:59 pm

Fewer is counting, lesser is degree, and lower is relativity.

Nauman

by **RonPurewal** Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:52 pm

"fewer", as the poster above has said, applies to literal COUNTING of things. if you can't count things, one, two, three, ..., then you don't want to use "fewer" for them.

"lesser" describes the degree of some quality or state. in fact, the most common noun modified by "lesser" is "degree". "LESSER" IS NOT THE SAME THING AS "LESS", which is a word that describes uncountable quantities of stuff.

there are several contexts in which "lower" can be used; which one did you have in mind? it could refer to quantities, for instance, or it could literally refer to vertical space.