Have you ever been to the grocery store and seen a sign that says “10 Items or Less” over one of the express lanes? This use of less where fewer should be used is in violation of the received rule that states less should be used with uncountable nouns.
Countable nouns are nouns that can be made plural. These include people, cars, storms, and bars of chocolate.
Countable Nouns
Countable nouns are objects that can be individually distinguished and counted, such as jackets, apples, books, and doctors. These nouns are typically used in a singular form, and can be preceded by the articles “a” or “an”, and have a plural form. Uncountable nouns, on the other hand, are not distinct and can only be represented as a whole or mass. Examples of uncountable nouns include things like time, money, and distance.
In some cases, countable nouns can also become uncountable in a technical sense. These nouns may become uncountable when they are used with certain quantity words, such as per (per unit), of, or in. In addition, some intangible nouns may become uncountable when used with quantity words, such as ideas, goals, and plans.
There are exceptions to this rule, however. In a few contexts, less is more common than fewer when it comes to counting countable things. This is especially true when it comes to referring to bulk quantities, such as amounts of money or lengths of time. For instance, it is acceptable to say that a person made less mistakes or drank less juice, even though these are uncountable nouns.
Mass nouns, on the other hand, can only be referred to as a whole or mass, and cannot be divided or counted. This is why it is acceptable to say that a person drank less juice or walked farther than they did before.
In other cases, mass nouns can be reframed to make them seem countable, such as when they are preceded by a classifier. For instance, the phrase “Let’s have some fun” can be reframed as “Let’s have some enjoyable experiences”.
Less Vs Fewer
While the rule of using fewer for countable items and less for masses is clear enough to understand, it can be difficult to apply consistently in real life. Especially in situations where the rule is not strictly followed, such as when supermarkets post “10 Items or Less” above their express lanes.
Ultimately, it is up to the individual speaker to decide when to use each word. However, the more an individual internalizes this distinction, the more they will avoid making grammatical errors when referencing countable items or amounts. This will benefit them both in their professional and personal lives. The only thing better than avoiding a mistake is not making one in the first place! So next time you go to the grocery store, be sure to check the expressions on your receipt before leaving the cashier! Then you can be confident that your grammar is correct. Good luck!