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less = a measurable *quantity* smaller than
fewer = a *number* smaller than another number
Thus, you can have less traffic, but fewer cars painted black.
Hope this helps.
Penn
- - - -
Lucille Lattanzi wrote:
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> Howdy. List members -
> Here' s a good one for a Friday.
>
> Discussion of usage as part of our writing group's documentation
> guidelines revealed differences of opinion:
> One side claims that modern usage for "less" and "fewer" is to consider
> them interchangeable in most cases.
> Same for "farther" and "further".
>
> The other side strongly disagrees. We are all Boomers between 42 and 55
> so our schooling couldn't have been too different in matters of usage.
> Our references are recent and tend to differentiate the meanings of
> these words as well. I appeal to the list for opinions on modern usage.
>
> I have searched the archives and found 2 entries on less/fewer. I'd
> welcome your opinions on both pairs of words. Please reply to me
> off-list at lucille -dot- lattanzi -at- peri -dot- com
>
> I'll summarize the responses for the list next week.
>
> TIA for your help ....
>
> Lucille Lattanzi
> Periphonics Corporation
> Bohemia, NY, USA
>
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> <HTML>
> Howdy. List members -
> <BR>Here' s a good one for a Friday.
>
> <P>Discussion of usage as part of our writing group's documentation
> guidelines revealed differences of opinion:
> <BR>One side claims that modern usage for "less" and "fewer" is to consider
> them interchangeable in most cases.
> <BR>Same for "farther" and "further".
>
> <P>The other side strongly disagrees. We are all Boomers between 42 and
> 55 so our schooling couldn't have been too different in matters of usage.
> Our references are recent and tend to differentiate the meanings of these
> words as well. I appeal to the list for opinions on modern usage.
>
> <P>I have searched the archives and found 2 entries on less/fewer.
> I'd welcome your opinions on both pairs of words. Please reply to me off-list
> at <mailto>lucille -dot- lattanzi -at- peri -dot- com
>
> <P>I'll summarize the responses for the list next week.
>
> <P>TIA for your help ....
>
> <P>Lucille Lattanzi
> <BR>Periphonics Corporation
> <BR>Bohemia, NY, USA
> <BR> </HTML>
>
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