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