Which sentence follows the formal distinction between “fewer” and “less”?

Correct answer: A. The office received fewer applications this month.

  • A. The office received fewer applications this month.
  • B. The office received less applications this month.
  • C. The office received fewer traffic during the month.
  • D. The office received less individual forms this month.

Explanation

Fewer is normally used with countable items, such as applications, while less is used with mass or uncountable quantities. Applications can be counted, so fewer is the appropriate choice in formal usage.

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