Grammar pedantry justified :cloud9:

[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.

[PSRB]

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

[SWv2]

The BBC just pulled a tweet and corrected 'less' to 'fewer' following my intervention.

I am the guardian of Her Majesty's English.

I still don't really know the distinction.

[Sir C]

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.

[Luis Anaconda]

The BBC just pulled a tweet and corrected 'less' to 'fewer' following my intervention.

I am the guardian of Her Majesty's English.

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

[SWv2]

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.

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.

[Sir C]

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

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!

[Sir C]

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.

Oh I say sw, you seem to have cracked it!

Your plan for the Christmas party is fúcking shíte, mind.

[Peter]

The BBC just pulled a tweet and corrected 'less' to 'fewer' following my intervention.

I am the guardian of Her Majesty's English.

Do you mean they pulled it just now or all they did was pull it? :)

[Peter]

Oh I say sw, you seem to have cracked it!

Your plan for the Christmas party is fúcking shíte, mind.

You don't know how much he drank last year.

[Sir C]

You don't know how much he drank last year.

He is Irish, he exists to convert Guinness into píss. If he drinks less he might fail to batter his wife and píss in his wardrobe when he gets home, thus ruining the Irish christmas* traditions.

*Every weekend.

[Sir C]

He is Irish, he exists to convert Guinness into píss. If he drinks less he might fail to batter his wife and píss in his wardrobe when he gets home, thus ruining the Irish christmas* traditions.

*Every weekend.

No offence, like.

[Peter]

He is Irish, he exists to convert Guinness into píss. If he drinks less he might fail to batter his wife and píss in his wardrobe when he gets home, thus ruining the Irish christmas* traditions.

*Every weekend.

Well, you've won this round. ;)

[Ash]

He is Irish, he exists to convert Guinness into píss.


On a point of grammar pedantry, shouldn't that comma be a full stop? Or should there not be a conjunction following the comma. eg: "He is Dutch, so he exists to correct other people's English."

[Sir C]

On a point of grammar pedantry, shouldn't that comma be a full stop? Or should there not be a conjunction following the comma. eg: "He is Dutch, so he exists to correct other people's English."

Actually, I would say that a full stop or even a colon would work, but for elegance, my preference there would be a semi-colon.

You have hoist me by my own petard there, a. I shan't try to deny it.