Fewer: the shocking truth
Tesco is changing its signs from ten items or less to up to ten items because of complaints from grammar activists according to UPI.
Pretty scary thought, eh, those grammar activists?
The Telegraph quoted a Tesco spokesman saying
The debate about what is right has been going on for years now, and I still don't think we know if 'less' or 'fewer' is correct.
Other news sources, including the BBC, implied that there was some doubt about whether the original signs were grammatically incorrect.
Let's set the record straight here and now:
Less if it is uncountable (less jelly, less custard)
Fewer if it is countable (fewer jelly babies, fewer custard creams... fewer items).
On this one, there is no doubt.
Pretty scary thought, eh, those grammar activists?
The Telegraph quoted a Tesco spokesman saying
The debate about what is right has been going on for years now, and I still don't think we know if 'less' or 'fewer' is correct.
Other news sources, including the BBC, implied that there was some doubt about whether the original signs were grammatically incorrect.
Let's set the record straight here and now:
Less if it is uncountable (less jelly, less custard)
Fewer if it is countable (fewer jelly babies, fewer custard creams... fewer items).
On this one, there is no doubt.
Labels: Quirks
1 Comments:
Strictly Come Dancing Take Two (oh the shame of being there to notice)keeps track of which couples do the most hours practice and which the least hours practice.
The most and least practice, but the greatest number of, and fewest hours practice ... please.
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