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Post by TfS on Sept 6, 2009 8:16:28 GMT
No matter how many times the subject is raised, less vs. fewer is guaranteed to generate some discussion. More or less correct, Geoff. ;D TfS
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Post by Twoddle on Sept 6, 2009 10:10:51 GMT
No matter how many times the subject is raised, less vs. fewer is guaranteed to generate some discussion. More or less correct, Geoff. ;D TfS Do you think it's generated few and lesser comments this time?
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Post by Tone on Sept 6, 2009 11:08:39 GMT
Maybe "few" is the lesser of two evils.
Were we to accept the postulate that a "wrong" choice could be made, then would the wrongness be use of "less" fewer times that "fewer", or "fewer" less times that "less"?
Or would that be use of "less" less times that "fewer", or "fewer" fewer times that "less"?
Tone
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Post by Sue M-V on Sept 6, 2009 15:49:52 GMT
Aaaargh!
Sue
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Post by Twoddle on Sept 6, 2009 17:28:44 GMT
Maybe "few" is the lesser of two evils. Were we to accept the postulate that a "wrong" choice could be made, then would the wrongness be use of "less" fewer times that "fewer", or "fewer" less times that "less"? Or would that be use of "less" less times that "fewer", or "fewer" fewer times that "less"? Tone I'm tending towards laisser faire here.
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Post by Bertie on Sept 7, 2009 0:16:32 GMT
Phew!
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Post by Dave on Sept 7, 2009 7:10:50 GMT
-er
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Post by TfS on Sept 8, 2009 6:07:37 GMT
-er Nice one, Dave. ;D TfS
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Post by graham on Sept 15, 2009 7:31:49 GMT
Was my "It depends on whether the noun is a count noun or a non-count noun" too technical? As you've pointed out before, Paul, it's not that simple. We don't say "One fewer car/s", but "One less car", despite "car" being a count noun. I think singularity v plurality must come into it as well. Very interesting - I noticed that Facebook follows a singular/plural convention, when reporting the membership of groups. If people leave Facebook groups (ask your grandchildren...) then Facebook will say: 1 less member 2 fewer members Strange grammatically, but I think this is how English is spoken.
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Post by Pete on Sept 15, 2009 20:16:28 GMT
As you've pointed out before, Paul, it's not that simple. We don't say "One fewer car/s", but "One less car", despite "car" being a count noun. I think singularity v plurality must come into it as well. Very interesting - I noticed that Facebook follows a singular/plural convention, when reporting the membership of groups. If people leave Facebook groups (ask your grandchildren...) then Facebook will say: 1 less member 2 fewer members Strange grammatically, but I think this is how English is spoken. That may be so but I still prefer "One fewer member".
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Post by Pete on Sept 15, 2009 20:16:48 GMT
As you've pointed out before, Paul, it's not that simple. We don't say "One fewer car/s", but "One less car", despite "car" being a count noun. I think singularity v plurality must come into it as well. Very interesting - I noticed that Facebook follows a singular/plural convention, when reporting the membership of groups. If people leave Facebook groups (ask your grandchildren...) then Facebook will say: 1 less member 2 fewer members Strange grammatically, but I think this is how English is spoken. That may be so but I still prefer "One fewer member".
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Post by SusanB on Sept 15, 2009 20:37:00 GMT
Pete, You prefer one fewer member and then another fewer member?
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Post by Dave on Sept 16, 2009 3:33:54 GMT
Pete, You prefer one fewer member and then another fewer member? Maybe one less post?
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Post by Vadim on Sept 23, 2009 16:57:37 GMT
Pete, You prefer one fewer member and then another fewer member? Maybe one less post? Nice work, Dave! Two more (you can't go wrong with mores) funnies from you in this thread!
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Post by Vadim on Sept 23, 2009 16:59:09 GMT
As you've pointed out before, Paul, it's not that simple. We don't say "One fewer car/s", but "One less car", despite "car" being a count noun. I think singularity v plurality must come into it as well. Very interesting - I noticed that Facebook follows a singular/plural convention, when reporting the membership of groups. If people leave Facebook groups (ask your grandchildren...) then Facebook will say: 1 less member 2 fewer members Strange grammatically, but I think this is how English is spoken. I'd say "1 less member" "2 less members" " n. less members". I'd obviously be wrong but that's how I'd say it. I do use groups on Facebook, but I'm not a grandchild (in that none of my grandparents are alive).
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