Fewer indicates plural number and is used with plural nouns.
- The Department of National Defence has bought fewer computers this year than last.
- Greater emphasis on health issues means that there are fewer people eating candy.
- The program benefits families with four or fewer children.
- Students must answer no fewer than 12 questions on the exam paper.
Less and lesser indicate a singular amount and are used with singular nouns (which are often uncountable).
- There will be one less participant in this competition.
- You will be assigned less work this week.
- Henk had even less money than I did in our student days.
- Granny used to joke that growing old was the lesser of two evils.
- I do enjoy cycling, but to a lesser degree than running.
Less is also used with plural measurements of distance, money, time, etc., which express overall amounts that are usually considered singular:
- Five kilometres is less than the distance I walked.
- Jean had less than $40 for groceries, so Carl lent her some money.
- We have less than twenty minutes to get ready!
- Can you express that in 25 words or less?
Less is also frequently used in mathematics to mean “smaller.”
- The sum of 7 plus 4 is less than 12.
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