The Simple Things

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Well, fewer is correct, but less is not wrong, at least, not according to Messrs. Merriam and Webster

That's not so. It would have to be "lesser number of outs than 2" to be correct.

[ASA Ump MN]

She can't even understand that figuring out 20%

You guys tip 20 percent in Virginia?..

I could never tip $40 on a $100 tab no-matter how great the table dances or service was ...

[NDblue]

Originally Posted by ASA Ump MN

You guys tip 20 percent in Virginia?..

I could never tip $40 on a $100 tab no-matter how great the table dances or service was ...

Must be the math they teach in Minniesoda?

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by NDblue

Must be the math they teach in Minniesoda?

Well they say 40 is the new 20 or something like that.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

That's not so. It would have to be "lesser number of outs than 2" to be correct.

Usage Discussion of LESS

The traditional view is that less applies to matters of degree, value, or amount and modifies collective nouns, mass nouns, or nouns denoting an abstract whole while fewer applies to matters of number and modifies plural nouns. Less has been used to modify plural nouns since the days of King Alfred and the usage, though roundly decried, appears to be increasing. Less is more likely than fewer to modify plural nouns when distances, sums of money, and a few fixed phrases are involved <less than 100 miles> less than $2000> less> and as likely as fewer to modify periods of time less (or fewer) than four hours>.