A fiber comprises a composition including a poly(phenylene ether) having less than or equal to 240 parts per million by weight of hydroxyl groups associated with ethylene bridge groups and less than or equal to 800 parts per million by weight of hydroxyl groups associated with rearranged backbone groups, both amounts based on the weight of the poly(phenylene ether). Fiber of low denier can be formed from this composition. The fiber can be formed by melt spinning.