It is a grammar thing. You can have a lot less of a non-count noun, like sand. But you have to have fewer of countable nouns, like loaves of bread, or bakers of bread
This is a contested grammar rule that was based on one persons opinion in the late 1700s.
There are plently of examples in history and modern usage where less and fewer are used interchangably. It is not a fixed part of english grammar as much as an “internet gotcha” that is commonly repeated.
You can use “less” when it’s a non-discrete plurality, such as water or sand (ignoring the technical fact that these can now be observed as discrete components below the macroscopic level) or money (the made-up kind, not necessarily the physical representations thereof). It’s vastly more messy to have 1.78 bakers, and their families get really upset about it, so it’s safer just to use “fewer.”
No, I think there are fewer bakers.
They’re also smaller
I don’t trust small bakers…
How can a 50 year old (66 by now) look that young? Witchcraft or technoheresy!
You don’t have a quarter, do ya? All I want is one more oatmeal pie
Is this a grammer thing? I’m fairly certain I can use “a lot less”.
Hmm nvm, I don’t recognize the meme.
It is a grammar thing. You can have a lot less of a non-count noun, like sand. But you have to have fewer of countable nouns, like loaves of bread, or bakers of bread
Ahhh I see, thank you
This is a contested grammar rule that was based on one persons opinion in the late 1700s.
There are plently of examples in history and modern usage where less and fewer are used interchangably. It is not a fixed part of english grammar as much as an “internet gotcha” that is commonly repeated.
Looks better though. I know it looks better because I grew up with the rule, but it does look better.
Personally I disagree. “Fewer” is more verbose than “less,” so it just looks cumbersome to me in many instances.
It also irks me a bit, because I know at least some of the instances I see are likely based on the above misunderstanding, not taste.
Non-countable? I think some vampires might disagree.
I also thought Thor relevant but I can’t find anything to support that.
Whether something is a. Punt or non-count noun is more convention than actual ability to be counted
I know, but if I let reality impinge on my comments, it would get a lot harder to make stupid jokes.
You can use “less” when it’s a non-discrete plurality, such as water or sand (ignoring the technical fact that these can now be observed as discrete components below the macroscopic level) or money (the made-up kind, not necessarily the physical representations thereof). It’s vastly more messy to have 1.78 bakers, and their families get really upset about it, so it’s safer just to use “fewer.”
To be fair, knowing what the first mass production machines looked like, some families definitely got back .78 of their baker.
Jk tho, thanks for the correction.