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Schmadam Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Less or fewer
Hello.
I understand the basic difference between using less and fewer however I have come across a number of cases recently where I've called my own gut feeling into question.
I understand the basic difference between using less and fewer however I have come across a number of cases recently where I've called my own gut feeling into question.
- A car advert recently spoke of 'less emissions'. In this case fewer emissions would seem to imply fewer gases emitted rather than less of each, the latter of which I expect to be truth. Even so, if my assumption about the meaning is correct, is it right to say "less emissions" or should it be rephrased?
- A recent BBC website article (which are prone to grammatical errors much more than one would expect but that's a whole separate conversation) described organic produce as 'grown with "less chemicals"'. In this case it is difficult to imply the exact meaning but it could easily mean fewer chemicals. The same question arises, however. If they mean less of each chemical is it correct to say "less chemicals"?
Top answer
Hello, schmadam - and welcome to English Forums. The bald truth is that 'less' has been used for countable nouns for hundreds of years, and the rule for 'fewer' was introduced by a prescriptivist grammarian only in 1770. So first: don't get upset if you see 'less' before countables.
- Hello, schmadam - and welcome to English Forums.
- The bald truth is that 'less' has been used for countable nouns for hundreds of years, and the rule for 'fewer' was introduced by a prescriptivist grammarian only in 1770.
- So first: don't get upset if you see 'less' before countables.
- And second, use 'fewer' if your teacher or editor likes to make the distinction.
- Having said that, if 'less' is for non-count nouns and 'fewer' is for count nouns, and you find yourself acutely aware of the difference, then any time that you meet a noun with an '-s' preceded by 'less', it is going to sound 'wrong'.
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3 Answers
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Hello, schmadam - and welcome to English Forums.
The bald truth is that 'less' has been used for countable nouns for hundreds of years, and the rule for 'fewer' was introduced by a prescriptivist grammarian only in 1770. So first: don't get upset if you see 'less' before countables. And second, use 'fewer' if your teacher or editor likes to make the distinction.
Having said tha
The bald truth is that 'less' has been used for countable nouns for hundreds of years, and the rule for 'fewer' was introduced by a prescriptivist grammarian only in 1770. So first: don't get upset if you see 'less' before countables. And second, use 'fewer' if your teacher or editor likes to make the distinction.
Having said tha
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May I take issue with the above, all language evolves, however prescripitve frameworks and rules exist for a reason; if we are to remove all prescription from language chaos ensues. German could become French, or what would stop me from assserting that: "" asjchdvud dcvldfv mvov dvojd mnvjn" is not a group of random key strikes but the opening line from King Lear?
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Calm down, Anon. Your argument is an old and tired one.
Anonymous what would stop me from assserting that: "" asjchdvud dcvldfv mvov dvojd mnvjn" is not a group of random key strikes but the opening line from King Lear?Only the fact that people don't use or understand it. If as many people used your gibberish as use 'less' over 'fewer', then we would also
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