From proper punctuation and the decline of the subjunctive to correct etiquette in emails and text messaging, Rogers (known at the National Geographic as StyleMaven) raises questions and renders opinions on the English language.
When Fewer Becomes Less
Posted Jun 11,2008

Last weekend the scorching weather forced me finally to turn on the AC and take refuge inside away from weeding and pruning. I dipped into Jimmy Buffett’s A Pirate Looks at Fifty and, in a section where the author reminisced about his school days and writing about his summer experiences, encountered the phrase “in 400 words or less.”

Hmmm. In 400 words or less? In 400 words or fewer? Is one correct and the other wrong?

Much as I like to be neat and tidy, much as I see value in clear, consistent rules for writing, I also think we grammar gurus can be too dictatorial, insisting that there is only one correct way. We become Theodore Bernstein’s Miss Thistlebottom, expressing our own pedantic rights and wrongs.

Fewer/Less is not one of Miss Thistlebottom’s hobgoblins, yet I can imagine her saying, “ ‘Word’ is definitely a countable noun and ‘fewer’ should be used with countable nouns. Therefore one should say, ‘In 400 words or fewer.’ ”

But wait, Miss Thistlebottom. Can it not be argued that “400 words” is a quantity, a collective noun of sorts, as Mr. Bernstein himself argues in The Careful Writer? Shouldn’t Mr. Buffett be allowed to write “400 words or less” as a proper and accepted idiom? Shouldn’t grocery checkout signs be allowed to say “15 items or less,” which is easier on my ear than “15 items or fewer”?

I find myself favoring “less” in such instances, but tolerantly allowing others the use of “fewer.” This is a point of grammar that can be negotiated.

A colleague comments: “I agree with you that 15 items or less is fine. I just like the fact that where I shop uses the more formal form!”

Not all points of grammar can be negotiated. For instance, a pronoun used as a direct object must be in the objective case: me, not I. There is only one correct way to write “he invited my wife and me out to dinner.” To say “he invited my wife and I out to dinner” is just wrong, wrong, wrong.

Posted by Lesley Rogers | Comments (6)
Filed Under: Word Usage

Comments

JoAnne DeStefano
Jun 11, 2008 2PM #

In the July 2008 issue, I read the article by Jeremy Berlin on the Romanov family. In any of his research did he ever see mention of a stand in double to the czar. My old Aunt and father believe my grandfather was in the army and right hand man to the czar and because of his resembelance would fill in sometimes.We have pictures of my grandfather and what I have seen in print , there is a likeness. So could you please pass this on to Jeremy and have him contact me if he has anyy info that would satisfy an old family story.

Tine Tennessen
Jun 11, 2008 2PM #

So many educated people make this error and I am tired of correcting them.

My father gave me a simple rule to use if I had any doubt whether to use I or me.....simply remove the 2nd or 3rd person and say it as though you are alone.
...He invited me for dinner. One would never say ...He invited I for dinner!
This page is so refreshing, I will visit it on a regular basis.

Thank you

vince hamilton
Jun 11, 2008 2PM #

"Fewer" or "less" is not a point of grammer that can be negotiated. 15 items or less sounds right to the ear because it is such a common error. To say that because an error is common, it is therefore ok, is idiotic. You may favor "less" all you like, but please stop encouraging your readers to be equally lazy and careless about the English language.

Thanks You

Vince Hamilton

Jill
Jun 11, 2008 2PM #

Less commercials.

Less emissions.

Less imports.

Less calories.

All incorrect. Fewer is correct.

Anyone who learned basic English should be able to "hear' the error. I think it is laziness--one syllable vs. two.

Mary Flintstone
Jun 11, 2008 2PM #

Dear Ms Rogers; This is a linguistic question not related to any of the above articles. I am a teacher of English to 13-year olds in Poland and I am curious to know if phrases like; 'wanna' or 'gonna' are acceptable in the school context, either in the written or the spoken version. Obviously, they must be avoided in the academic language at a higher level of education.
I would be really grateful for your kind reply.
Yours sincerely;

m

Stevie Godson
Jun 11, 2008 2PM #

Me love this entry.

Stevie Godson
Style Editor
Daily Dispatch
South Africa

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