Fewer vs Less

this is one of those weird linguistic things i instinctively understand and always get right in writing but if i'm not paying attention nearly always get wrong in speech

* there is a logic behind every grammatical choice we make, might be a ridiculously convoluted logic, but there is one anyway.
* 'fewer' is slipping out of use, the only reason I teach it is because it's a standard thing on IELTS etc., and the sooner it's gone the better.

Oh, and this was a good read re: piraha - http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/tom-wolfes-reflections-language/

This is one of those rules that serves no useful purpose and nobody has ever been misunderstood because they used "less" instead of "fewer", so even if I sometimes get bothered by this sort of thing (not this one specifically, but other similar things), I never point it out because I know that the problem is with me and not the person who said or wrote this.

http://www.thatdanny.com/wp-content/2008/11/one_fewer_one_less_survey.gif

this discussion has moved on from what the precise usage is at this point, i think. everyone understands

is the pizzeria still trendy if not as much people are going there these days

'nobody goes there anymore -- it's too crowded.'

-- bob marley

children in pizzerias is the probable culprit

one of those cases where more is less, eh?

What a great thread. Language is what makes us human.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_language

That article is a good read, and I like the image comparing the patterns of languages with the recursive patterns of the nautilus and the snowflake. Thinking about the aesthetic qualities of language tempers my negativity somewhat.

“more and more fewer”
ALMOST

So this just came up

usually worth ignoring, unless it's in a professional writing/editing capacity

unfewer

There's a site whose search function I use for work every day, which is set up to offer 'more options' or 'less options' and, well, it's been years now and I'm still not over it. It hurts me in my heart.

enumerable -> fewer
unenumerable -> less

i don't have a good mnemonic for it

― ciderpress, Monday, December 19, 2016 3:59 PM

Proxy feul

Every express lane ever: “10 Items or Less”
GAHHH

who cares, we don't have two words for 'more'.

caring about this is reactionary

"well actually i think you'll find the true meaning of decimate is..." fuck off

Ok you got me, i call

nobody has ever been misunderstood because they used "less" instead of "fewer"

Try fewer

Using less for fewer sounds okay: there were less people in the store today than yesterday.

Using fewer for less sounds terrible: I put fewer gas in the car today than yesterday.

I'm posting right now because I get fewer sleep since I retired.

Use the fewer of two evils, clem?

less makes sense there because people use it like that, fewer doesn't because people don't, but if they started doing so it would

I guess that's true, but if enough people started using book when they meant apple, you'd get used to that too. It's not a big deal to me, and I'd certainly never correct anyone, but the distinction seems basic enough. It's one of those grammar things I actually enjoyed teaching to kids, because you could make them laugh through intentional misuse.

This rule is great because some of you lads have a lot of energy to burn off

Swear to god nv i deleted a post that said "are you burning calories at this or what"

High five or fewer

fewer is greater

The fewer of two evils.

Oh I see dmac already took that one.

Forgive me, I just had a less things to get off my chest.

i could really care fewer

Everything is fewer than zero, hey!

Fewer, less, what does it really matter, I try not to let it bother me that many

I know it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but this is one I do notice. "12 items or less" sounds just as jarring to me as "How much items do you have?"

Pardon me, sir, I believe you mean to say 'how much items does you have'.

OMG, that appears to be more of a thing than I ever would've thought

'how much items do' - About 2,340 results (0.41 seconds)

there's so much less examples of "x or fewer" around that i would find that jarring. it's weird people feel strongly about this. usages that are common and understood within the language aren't wrong, irregardless of what people were taught

If you didn't see it, the last post on the second-thoughts thread, pertaining to this one, is pretty great.

“Hopefully this year will allow us less virtual and more socially distanced in person events!”

Shut the fuck up

i find myself caring about the distinction fewer and fewer

It feels good to have the knowledge necessary to draw a fine distinction that is rarely required, unless it spoils your ability to discern when it isn't required and turns you into a monster.

I get paid to make prose conform to the preferences of whoever is paying me at any given moment. Right and wrong are irrelevant, it is just about market forces and my wish to keep my children fed.

Grammar Nazis sure do love their Fewer.

I enjoy the distinction tbh.