Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site bnrmtv.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!qantel!hplabs!oliveb!3comvax!bnrmtv!perkins
From: perkins@bnrmtv.UUCP (Henry Perkins)
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Re: Is English decaying rapidly?
Message-ID: <204@bnrmtv.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 5-Nov-85 12:24:56 EST
Article-I.D.: bnrmtv.204
Posted: Tue Nov  5 12:24:56 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 10-Nov-85 09:29:06 EST
References: <1427@cae780.UUCP> <10600197@uiucdcs> <197@bnrmtv.UUCP> <1044@jhunix.UUCP> <185@opus.UUCP> <1588@utcsri.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Northern Research, Mtn. View, CA
Lines: 23

> >The difference between "less" and "fewer" is that "less" refers to a
> >measure of a continuous quantity while "fewer" refers to a smaller number
> >of discrete objects.
>  
> Can you find a dictionary that agrees with you on this restriction on the
> use of "less"?  Mine doesn't.

From the Oxford American Dictionary, 1980 (italics are denoted by /\):

  less (les) /adj.\ 1. not so much of, a smaller quantity
    of, /eat less meat.\  2. smaller in amount or degree
    etc., /of less importance.\  less /adv.\ to a smaller
    extent.  less /n.\ a smaller amount or quantity etc.,
    /will not take less.\  less /prep.\ minus, deducting,
    /a year less three days; was paid one hundred dollars,
    less tax.\  [> The word /less\ is used of things that
    are measured by amount (for example in /eat less
    butter; use less fuel\).  Its use with things measured
    by number is regarded as incorrect (for example in /we
    need less workers;\ correct usage is /fewer workers\).
-- 

{hplabs,amdahl,3comvax}!bnrmtv!perkins          --Henry Perkins