Reply With QuoteI saw that earlier and chuckledOriginally Posted by Sir C
The BBC just pulled a tweet and corrected 'less' to 'fewer' following my intervention.
I am the guardian of Her Majesty's English.
I saw that earlier and chuckled
I still don't really know the distinction.
Here's a simple explanation.
Use fewer if you’re referring to people or things in the plural (e.g. houses, newspapers, dogs, students, children). For example:
People these days are buying fewer newspapers.
Fewer students are opting to study science-related subjects.
Fewer than thirty children each year develop the disease.
Use less when you’re referring to something that can’t be counted or doesn’t have a plural (e.g. money, air, time, music, rain). For example:
It’s a better job but they pay you less money.
People want to spend less time in traffic jams.
Ironically, when I’m on tour, I listen to less music.
Justified? Meh. It's simply perpetuating the use of an archaic rule that for some reason certain people have latched on to and like to point out any time there is an "abuse". It serves no purpose in terms of understanding or elegance and should be done away with immediately. English is beautiful malleable language, with alternative ways to express something being one of its greatest strengths. Adherence to such points as the "less/fewer" differentiation is - shudder - almost Germanic
I shall endeavour to use the words correctly from here on.
At next year's Xmas party I intend to drink less by having fewer pints.
You're arguing for linguistic anarchy, la. As a gentleman of the pen, I would expect better of you.
We must have order I tell you! Alles muss in Ordnung sein!
Oh I say sw, you seem to have cracked it!
Your plan for the Christmas party is fúcking shíte, mind.
Do you mean they pulled it just now or all they did was pull it?
You don't know how much he drank last year.
Posting Permissions