Entry #674781, added on 11-04-09 @ 10:44 pm EST
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| Issue 6: Less versus Fewer | Entry #674781 |
November 4, 2009
 About This Newsletter
In the spirit of NaNoWriMo, in which several group members -- yours truly included -- are participating this month, we'll have a short, targeted grammar newsletter this time.
Grammar Conundrum
When's the last time you heard someone use the word 'fewer'? If you're like most modern English speakers, you likely don't differentiate, at least in conversation, between this word and 'less.' They both mean that there is a smaller number of something. However, the two words are not interchangeable.
Less is used for nouns that are uncountable.
Fewer is used for nouns that are countable.
Maybe you haven't heard this terminology before; unless you've studied a foreign language, you might not have been taught about this linguistic phenomenon. Luckily, it's easy and intuitive. A countable noun is something discrete: apples, notepads, cars, people, etc. An uncountable noun is something that you cannot count: sugar, furniture, electricity, money.
Think about it: you can count the number of pencils on your desk. You can't count the number of water in your mug. So, when referring to a smaller amount of those two things, you would want fewer pencils, but less water.
Examples:
There are fewer coins in this bucket than there were this morning. You can count the exact number of coins; therefore, the word 'fewer' is necessary.
Wasn't there less money in the account last week? You can't have a hundred money; money is an aggregate item. Use 'less.'
'Fewer' may be one of the most ignored words in the English language. On Writing.com alone I've spotted hundreds of activities that use 'less' where 'fewer' is required. Have you ever seen a contest that listed a word count of 1500 words or less? Words are countable. The very act of limiting words requires them to be counted! Don't leave poor, ignored 'fewer' out in the cold. It yearns to be a part of your good grammar repertoire.
In doubt about how to differentiate? We also use the concept of countable versus uncountable in the measures 'much' and 'many.' Think to yourself, how would I ask about an amount of this item? If you would ask "How many?" you want to use 'fewer.' If you would ask "How much?" you want to use 'less.'
Examples:
"How many eggs does the recipe call for?"
Eggs are discrete and countable. So, you would say, "There are fewer eggs in this recipe than in that one."
"How much milk does the recipe call for?"
Milk is uncountable -- you can't have "three milk." In this case, you would say, "There is less milk in this recipe."
 It is important to note a few nouns can be countable or uncountable depending on the situation. A prime example is the word 'hair.' When referring to individual strands, hair is countable: "I like this soup, but I wish there were fewer hairs in it." When referring to your whole head of hair, though, it is uncountable: "I wonder what I'd look like with less hair."
Editor's Picks
Judgmental conclusions are countable, and take 'fewer.' Check out this item for some interesting tips.
Feedback
Confused about less and fewer? Have a difficult case whose countability -- or lack thereof -- you just can't figure out? Drop a line and it'll be covered in the next issue.
You can also use this survey to suggest a future topic, submit a piece for future editor's picks, or volunteer to guest edit.
Sincerely,
 
As always, past issues of the newsletter are available for viewing in "Unofficial Grammar Newsletter Archives"  [ASR]. |
© Copyright 2009 Lorien (UN: thatonegirl at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
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