learn the rule: less. or fewer?

  • Less and fewer are adjectives that modify quantities of plural nouns
  • Fewer is used when there are specific, countable or observable items/entitites/objects in the collection
    • I have fewer potatoes than I need to make chips.
    • There are fewer than four people as ugly as you.
  • Less is used when the quantity is more general, ambiguous or collective.
    • You can make less mash with those potatoes.
    • I am less ugly than you.
  • Getting it wrong is pretty easy. It still makes you look stupid.
  • By reading this, you'll be less wrong than you were before by making fewer mistakes. You'll still smell, though.