ASDA has raised the bar on the classic checkout clanger. Not content with using “less” rather than “fewer”, it has imposed a strict item limit of “about 20”. Who’s counting?
Less of that, ASDA
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Tag Archives: fewer
Less vs Fewer
I used to be oblivious to this, but now I know, misuse increasingly sticks out like a sore thumb:
- “Less” is for an amount of bulk stuff you’re not counting in discrete units – less water, less food, less stock
- “Fewer” is for discrete, countable things – fewer drinks, fewer meals, fewer items at a checkout
So if the sign at your checkout says “10 items or less”, it’s just wrong. Silly sign.
