Comments on: Fewer vs. Less: Should I Use Fewer or Less? https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/fewer-v-less/ GrammarBook.com Mon, 17 Jan 2022 23:58:02 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.5 By: GrammarBook.com https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/fewer-v-less/#comment-1500276 Mon, 17 Jan 2022 23:58:02 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=44#comment-1500276 In reply to Jack K.

We recommend writing “less than four inches.”

]]> By: Jack K https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/fewer-v-less/#comment-1499460 Fri, 14 Jan 2022 21:58:50 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=44#comment-1499460 Another in the great debate. Is it less than 4″ or fewer than 4″. I would argue less than because 4″ is a measurement. I think it would be more like time, money, weight and distance. It could easily go the other way.

]]> By: GrammarBook.com https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/fewer-v-less/#comment-1361295 Thu, 05 Sep 2019 21:48:01 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=44#comment-1361295 In reply to Carl.

Carl is referring to our “Fewer vs. Less” bonus quiz question in which the correct answer was “Rafi counted 20 slices of pie, but I counted one fewer slice than that.” Writing “… but I counted one slice fewer than that” would also be correct.

]]> By: Kristine Anderson https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/fewer-v-less/#comment-1358863 Fri, 30 Aug 2019 19:37:45 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=44#comment-1358863 Thank you for this. It drives me nuts when writers get this wrong! Will I have fewer nutty days now?

]]> By: Carl https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/fewer-v-less/#comment-1357989 Wed, 28 Aug 2019 16:51:21 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=44#comment-1357989 Item 4 should indeed use “fewer,” but the word placement threw me.

I’d have preferred “had one slice fewer.”

I’m not even sure why.

]]> By: William https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/fewer-v-less/#comment-1357956 Wed, 28 Aug 2019 15:19:00 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=44#comment-1357956 Who knew there were these exceptions when using less. It took me a while but I’ve got it well in hand now. Each week I’m making an improvement. Hooyah!

]]> By: GrammarBook.com https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/fewer-v-less/#comment-1356953 Sat, 24 Aug 2019 12:38:57 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=44#comment-1356953 In reply to Nick.

Less is correct.

]]> By: Nick https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/fewer-v-less/#comment-1353776 Fri, 16 Aug 2019 01:27:41 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=44#comment-1353776 In reply to GrammarBook.com.

So what about “We educate [less|fewer] than half of the children”? I’m picking “less” as this is grammatically (not just mathematically) analogous…

]]> By: GrammarBook.com https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/fewer-v-less/#comment-990292 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 13:12:07 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=44#comment-990292 In reply to Rick Stewart.

In our article we mention that “the expression less than is used in front of a plural noun that denotes a measure of distance, amount, or time.” The Chicago Manual of Style considers “less than X percent” a plural noun that denotes a measure of distance, amount, or time, even when used referring to people. Not all proper grammar sounds perfect to the ear.

]]> By: Rick Stewart https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/fewer-v-less/#comment-988655 Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:00:11 +0000 https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=44#comment-988655 To me the ‘less than __ % of’ rule sounds awkward when applied to countable items, especially when they are people. “Less than 50% of the men in prison for non-violent drug possession are white, although whites use just as much heroin as blacks,” just doesn’t sound as correct as, “Fewer than 50% of the men in prison … .” Do I just need to re-tune my ear?

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