A Measuring-Counting Distinction
rogersgeorge on September 24th, 2024
Misuse of “fewer” and “less” is one of my hobby horses. Use “fewer” when you’re counting, “less” when you’re measuring. Sometimes the distinction can be ambiguous, especially with speed, time, and distance. Here’s another ambiguous one. Second speech in panel two:
“Amount” is technically incorrect. It goes with things you measure, not count. But he’d have to say “the same number of words” to be unambiguous. After all, he could be saying “the same amount of speech/conversation/blah-blahing as the rest of us.”
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