'less' - don't you mean 'fewer'?

Question

Why is it so many people do not know the difference between the words 'less' and 'fewer'? 'Less' should only be used where the noun is not countable (e.g. less milk). Where the noun IS countable, 'fewer' is correct (e.g. fewer people). I guess it does not help that even public signage utlilses 'less' and 'fewer' incorrectly; supermarkets that label checkouts as '10 items or less' actually mean '10 items or fewer'.

Answer 1

Presumably it's ignorance. I shuddered when I saw that John Reid was quoted today as saying 'We should put less people in prisons'. You'd think he'd know better..

I suppose it's common because it's easier to say; people are lazy as well as ignorant.

Answer 2

The supermarkets probably use "less", as that word has fewer letters in it and, therefore, is less expensive to purchase.

Answer 3

You are quite correct,there are fewer people who know the correct words to use does that mean they have been given less education?

Answer 4

I couldn't care fewer, but I am not going to lose sleep over it. Everyone uses english incorrectly.

Answer 5

Gee-thanks for the English lesson.I haven't had one of those in a while...no less than 25 years!!

Answer 6

If this is your biggest problem with people, you have it easy! As for me, I couldn't care fewer which people use, maybe I have less brain cells.

Answer 7

:-) Good luck teaching people how to properly write or speak English. Grammar is a disappearing rule in this language, unfortunately.

Answer 8

So you more or less want less less, and more fewer. I always believed that less was more.

Answer 9

proper Grammar is not really important to the world. Just quick cash and convenience

Answer 10

Bravo! Good for you. I'm glad to see that grammar matters to someone!