A bit

We use a bit (of) or bits (of) to refer to quantities. The phrases can refer to both abstract and concrete things. They are an informal alternative to some, or a piece of or pieces of:

• Do they need a bit of help with their luggage? (or … some help …)
• There were bits of glass everywhere. (or … pieces of glass …)
• Have you lost a bit of weight? (or … some weight?)
• The storm had broken the fence into bits. (meaning ‘into small pieces’)

A bit or bits often have deliberately vague and informal meanings:

• I’ve given him a few bits of advice.

These words can also soften the meaning, so that a statement is not too direct:

• Wearing those shoes is a bit of a problem for her, I’m afraid.

We also use a bit to modify adjectives, or as an adverb. It is more informal than a little:

• They had got a bit tired working in the garden.
• Can you wait a bit for us? We’re in heavy traffic.

A bit is also used to modify comparative adjectives and comparative determiners:

• The climate in New Zealand was a bit nicer than we had expected.

However, a bit and a bit of are not normally used to modify comparative adjectives before nouns:

• It was a bit more entertaining than the last play we saw.
• Not: a bit more entertaining play. or a bit more of entertaining play.