Less/fewer

[Karen2005]

It really annoys me when I hear "less" being used instead of "fewer" (e.g.  "adults eat less vegetables than they did ten years ago").  I even hear less/fewer being used incorrectly on the news, when I'd expect them to know better!  Do you think there is any way of stopping this (a bit like Lynn Truss's apostrophe society) or shall I accept it as a lost cause?

[Quizmonster]

Miles, minutes and pounds are all countable nouns.  Would anyone, therefore, say: "My workplace is fewer than two miles from home, so it takes a taxi fewer than ten minutes to get there and the driver charges fewer than four pounds."? I suspect not!  There simply are situations which demand the demotic �less' rather than the grammatically-correct �fewer'. The latter became �correct' only in the 18th century in any case.  Prior to that, many writers used �less' where purists now demand �fewer'. 
As time passes, we'll see much more of �less' and much less of �fewer', you may count on it.  As an old-timer, I still differentiate between them, but I don't complain about people who choose not to... or don't know that they �should'.
It must be remembered, however, that there is a considerable difference - in terms of meaning - between a teacher telling his class: a) "Write fewer funny compositions" as opposed to: b) "Write less funny compositions."  �a' would mean they'd been writing too many of these and should try to cut the quantity down and �b' would mean the pupils were welcome to go on writing them, but the compositions should not be quite as amusing!

[Clanad]

While I usually agree, Karen, that the media (as well as "modern" education) is responsible in large part for the decline in correct language usage,  your particular example may not contain an error.  The axiom is, generally, less is used with uncountable nouns, whereas, fewer is used as a qualifier for individually countable items. Another application would be less means not as much, while fewer means not as many.  If one is to adhere to these rules, then, vegetable(s) as an all encompassing term for food items is an uncountable noun.  If one used less with carrots, for example, then its application would be incorrect and fewer should be employed. Obviously, there can be found exceptions to this rule... in my humble opinion...

[Clanad]

Well, QM, while not a particular problem, I've once again entered a response when none were previously showing... apologies, if necessary...

[Quizmonster]

Yes, C, I too am often nonplussed by the timing-system on AnswerBank. I'm sure that answers sometimes hang about in the ether somewhere before appearing on other people's monitors despite appearing on one's own immediately. I myself have often done the same as you, so nothing to worry about. Cheers

[Buenchico]

It's good to know that the incorrect use of "less" and "fewer" irritates someone other than me.

Anyone who has studied mathematics at school ought to know the difference between a discrete variable and a continuous one. The former requires 'fewer' and the latter requires 'less'.

It is perhaps unfortunate, given that these words can be defined in mathematical terms, that the only notable exception refers to the word 'number', to quantities incolving numbers or to numbers themselves. e.g. "The number of people at the meeting was less than expected" and "The price of gasoline in the USA is less than $3" - These are both correct uses of 'less' even though they appear to go against the general rule.

Keep on fighting, Karen. It's probably a lost cause but I'll be right there beside you anyway!

Chris

[snapdharlich]

If that's all I had to worry about then I'd be sooooo happy. Mind you, when I see people licking knives .....GRRRRRRR!