Language/grammar query - "20 items or less"

[BarRefaeli]

Which is correct, "20 items or less" or "20 items or fewer"?

TIA

I realise this is a grumpy old man thing but standards is standards

[Sarkmeister]

The second one....

[soad]

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/less-versus-f...

[BarRefaeli]

Yeah, 'zactly what I thought although for some reason it doesn't read as incorrectly as it ought...in that "20 items" could almost be a singular...

Edited by BarRefaeli on Monday 15th February 13:36

[Lurking Lawyer]

As a general rule, "less" is used to qualify an adjective while "fewer" is used to qualify a noun.

(Like any rule, it has its exceptions - but it's a good starting point).

So, it's "x items or fewer" IMHO.

[lightningghost]

"Less" for things you measure, "fewer" for things you count.

[DavidHM]

lightningghost said:

"Less" for things you measure, "fewer" for things you count.

This. Not this.

Lurking Lawyer said:

As a general rule, "less" is used to qualify an adjective while "fewer" is used to qualify a noun.

(Like any rule, it has its exceptions - but it's a good starting point).

[Size Nine Elm]

lightningghost said:

"Less" for things you measure, "fewer" for things you count.

Indeed. Less sugar, fewer sugarlumps.

[ProfessorPeach]

lightningghost said:

"Less" for things you measure, "fewer" for things you count.

Quite right.

Keira Knightly has less knockerage than Jordan.

Hitler had fewer bks than Churchill.


That's how they taught us to remember during the war.

[Dogwatch]

lightningghost said:

"Less" for things you measure, "fewer" for things you count.

Interesting. Always used 'less' or 'fewer' automatically while not knowing (or had forgotten being taught) what rule I was following.
M&S got it in the neck from their more literate customers for '7 items or less' but others have still to learn.

[lightningghost]

Dogwatch said:

lightningghost said:

"Less" for things you measure, "fewer" for things you count.

Interesting. Always used 'less' or 'fewer' automatically while not knowing (or had forgotten being taught) what rule I was following.
M&S got it in the neck from their more literate customers for '7 items or less' but others have still to learn.

"N items or less" seems to be everywhere. I'm not sure I've ever seen "N items or fewer".


While we're here I'd like to complain about another common grammatical error (because I'm a grumpy bd these days) - "amount" and "number". "Amount" for things you measure, "number" for things you count.


So, "The amount of times..." is irritating and crap.




The sad thing is I do feel a bit better now.

[Bill]

lightningghost said:

I'm not sure I've ever seen "N items or fewer".

Shop in Waitrose then, as an added bonus the checkout girls are prettier too

[Plotloss]

You're right, I'd not noticed this.

That's another thing to add to my list of things to annoy supermarket checkout operator staff.

It also keeps them chatting for a few seconds longer, which adds to the cost per transaction.

Every little helps eh?

[BarRefaeli]

I glanced at the sign last night and got narked at it, then wondered whether there was some obscure notion in this wonderful language of ours that meant "less" could be correct in that situation.

[Deva Link]

It should be 10. 20 is far too many!

[BarRefaeli]

Deva Link said:

It should be 10. 20 is far too many!

I had about 45, which is why I thought it prudent not to mention the sign...

[onomatopoeia]

Bill said:

lightningghost said:

I'm not sure I've ever seen "N items or fewer".

Shop in Waitrose then, as an added bonus the checkout girls are prettier too

Do you live in Portishead, or is this phenomenon repeated in Waitrose branches around the country?

[HereBeMonsters]

onomatopoeia said:

Bill said:

lightningghost said:

I'm not sure I've ever seen "N items or fewer".

Shop in Waitrose then, as an added bonus the checkout girls are prettier too

Do you live in Portishead, or is this phenomenon repeated in Waitrose branches around the country?

Certainly the case round my way. Although I was flirting with one on Saturday, and she came through to ring my wine purchases up and had to call a supervisor over as she was only 17. I felt a little bit dirty. I bet she just loves having men ten years her senior chatting her up at work.