"< " the Mathematical symbol for the expression Less Than.. there is no mathematical symbol for fewer than .. fewer than is an expression but not a mathematical one
You could use fewer only if you were referring to a measurement of some kind: fewer cups of flour, fewer grams of flour, fewer tablespoons of flour, etc.
This is caused by a phenomenon broadly referred to as "Regional Dialects" and essentially encapsulates the idea that people who live in different places tend to exhibit differences in how that talk
oh well perhaps to please them we’ll have to say “3 is an element of the intersection of the set of all numbers fewer than 5 and greater than 3” because that’s more correct or something
in all seriousness when it comes to numbers as an abstraction, "less than" is fine, but with physical quantities it might be better to say "fewer than"
Basically, the "Less vs Fewer" thing was introduced by a single guy, Robert Baker, in 1770 and it just kinda caught on. It wasn't some kind of intrinsic function of the language.
That joke works quite well as I scroll down the screen, you elicited more of a giggle than a smirk. You know, congratulations. I had myself in stiches, bet I offered someone though. that's what I used to do on twitter, laugh at my own jokes.
I'd like to believe that thoughtful people would wisely consider which grammar battles to fight, and which to let-slide-for-the-moment. That said, you'll pull that oxford comma from my cold, dead hands.
Comments
I'll get my coat... 🧥
I dislike them alot
You could use fewer only if you were referring to a measurement of some kind: fewer cups of flour, fewer grams of flour, fewer tablespoons of flour, etc.
My snark detector needs recalibration
If this is a reference to a Super Bowl ad, I didn't see any Super Bowl ads...
Small comforts!
Grammerman: 'Where is it?"
3 < 5
I say "Three is less than five"
If it works for math, I don't see why it can't work everywhere else.
Hope that helps!
3 ∈ (-∞,5] ∩ [3,∞)
If you don't mind me asking... why? Does it actually improve communication?
I'm not too opinionated one way or the other, but many seem to be *quite* opinionated about it, but usually just because it is quote unquote "correct"
*chuckle*
(I'll see myself out.)
…oh, he was killed for standing up to Hitler in 1945.
IRREGARDLESS of the HEIGHTH of cringe it causes!
Did not end well. During fight Grammar Man took a bullet point to the colon- still he landed vicious slash before he passed out.
Grammar Man now in comma.
Fortunately wife Tilde is by his side.
But the misuse of less instead of fewer is still squeaky chalk on a blackboard.
And I go full Grammar Patriot about the misuse of literally!