Fewer errors means less time fixing
Image by Getty Images via DaylifeApparently, doctors who spend three hours a week playing video games made 37 percent fewer mistakes in laparoscopic surgery found researchers in 2004. You could be forgiven for fixating on the fact that they make any mistakes at all, never mind in over a third of cases! But this is used to illustrate the use of the word ‘fewer’, because had they used the word ‘less’ that would have been, for some sad folks, a far greater crime than the odd mistaken slash with a scalpel.
People are always mixing up less and fewer and it can be irritating. Less refers to a number in general and fewer is individual items. There is less traffic and fewer cars, for example.
Getting it wrong is another plague of modern life that is gathering force, by stealth, and is sweeping through supermarkets, books, newspapers, schools, boardrooms and into politicians’ mouths.
One clever blogger, Joshua Sarkis Prowse made his point so well (on Yoursinwriting.com – the emphasis is no doubt on ’sin’) his statement deserves to be quoted: ‘This feigned literacy has become the norm, and we should be taking the problem more seriously. It has pervaded all levels of business and government, to the shame and heartache of millions.
‘Don’t believe me? Two words: George Bush. And on that topic, here’s a bonus application of today’s lesson:
‘”Less Bush means fewer wars, which results in fewer deaths, and less sorrow.”‘
Filed under: writing
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It’s actually supposed to be “Yours In Writing” but nobody else sees it that way. Nice to know there aren’t fewer people reading less of my writing. Thanks for the props, and keep up the good work here.
:-j