FAO Spades

This Forum is the main messageboard to discuss all things Claret and Blue and beyond
Post Reply
huw.Y.WattfromWare
Posts: 3393
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 7:04 pm
Been Liked: 1004 times
Has Liked: 905 times

FAO Spades

Post by huw.Y.WattfromWare » Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:25 pm

Good day, your Majesty. Education required. I came across this sentence in a book I was reading and know you’ll be able to tell me why one is grammatically correct and the other isn’t.
“Express checkouts at the supermarket are irritating enough just for saying ‘five items or less’ when grammatically speaking it should be ‘five items or fewer’”.
My English language ‘O’ level didn’t cover this level.
Thank you.

!aiboforceN
Posts: 242
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 7:10 am
Been Liked: 229 times
Has Liked: 194 times
Location: London

Re: FAO Spades

Post by !aiboforceN » Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:33 pm

One can have less of a thing (singular)... or fewer things (plural), e.g. less sugar, or fewer grains of sugar

In your example "5 items or fewer", items is plural so fewer is correct.
This user liked this post: huw.Y.WattfromWare

spadesclaret
Posts: 3406
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:57 pm
Been Liked: 2147 times
Has Liked: 3782 times
Location: Norfolk

Re: FAO Spades

Post by spadesclaret » Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:36 pm

Hello huw.

'fewer' should be used when the subject you are talking about can be counted e.g. marbles - There are fewer marbles in my tin than in his.

'less' should be used when talking about one thing e.g. butter - There is less butter on my toast than on yours.

Always notice whether you are using 'are' and 'were' or 'is' and 'was'. Are/were = fewer. Is/was = less.
This user liked this post: huw.Y.WattfromWare

spadesclaret
Posts: 3406
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:57 pm
Been Liked: 2147 times
Has Liked: 3782 times
Location: Norfolk

Re: FAO Spades

Post by spadesclaret » Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:37 pm

That wretched !aibo beat me to it. I didn't bring him up to beat me to it!

!aiboforceN
Posts: 242
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 7:10 am
Been Liked: 229 times
Has Liked: 194 times
Location: London

Re: FAO Spades

Post by !aiboforceN » Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:39 pm

Apologies - I knew I shouldn't have! Just demonstrating that I did listen occasionally ;)
This user liked this post: spadesclaret

kritichris
Posts: 608
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2016 9:01 am
Been Liked: 135 times
Has Liked: 179 times
Location: France

Re: FAO Spades

Post by kritichris » Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:41 pm

The less said the better. (or not in this case)
This user liked this post: spadesclaret

huw.Y.WattfromWare
Posts: 3393
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 7:04 pm
Been Liked: 1004 times
Has Liked: 905 times

Re: FAO Spades

Post by huw.Y.WattfromWare » Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:59 pm

Thank you both. Such a simple answer and I’d never come across it before. It won’t be forgotten.
These 2 users liked this post: !aiboforceN spadesclaret

spadesclaret
Posts: 3406
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:57 pm
Been Liked: 2147 times
Has Liked: 3782 times
Location: Norfolk

Re: FAO Spades

Post by spadesclaret » Tue Jun 30, 2020 10:49 pm

He even beat me to it with his 'like'. Grrr!

tybfc
Posts: 3325
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 8:21 pm
Been Liked: 1303 times
Has Liked: 318 times
Location: Accrington

Re: FAO Spades

Post by tybfc » Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:01 pm

Bit slow their spades.

spadesclaret
Posts: 3406
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:57 pm
Been Liked: 2147 times
Has Liked: 3782 times
Location: Norfolk

Re: FAO Spades

Post by spadesclaret » Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:56 pm

tybfc wrote:
Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:01 pm
Bit slow their spades.
It's my age. It's past my bedtime.

DCWat
Posts: 9292
Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2016 11:04 am
Been Liked: 4131 times
Has Liked: 3597 times

Re: FAO Spades

Post by DCWat » Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:58 pm

spadesclaret wrote:
Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:36 pm
Hello huw.

'fewer' should be used when the subject you are talking about can be counted e.g. marbles - There are fewer marbles in my tin than in his.

'less' should be used when talking about one thing e.g. butter - There is less butter on my toast than on yours.

Always notice whether you are using 'are' and 'were' or 'is' and 'was'. Are/were = fewer. Is/was = less.
Unless the toast was being spread with the little foil sachets of butter? :)

spadesclaret
Posts: 3406
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:57 pm
Been Liked: 2147 times
Has Liked: 3782 times
Location: Norfolk

Re: FAO Spades

Post by spadesclaret » Wed Jul 01, 2020 12:02 am

DCWat wrote:
Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:58 pm
Unless the toast was being spread with the little foil sachets of butter? :)
In which case it would be, 'There are fewer little foil sachets of butter on my toast than on yours.' ;)
This user liked this post: DCWat

The Enclosure
Posts: 4486
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 7:29 am
Been Liked: 990 times
Has Liked: 3266 times
Location: Burnley

Re: FAO Spades

Post by The Enclosure » Wed Jul 01, 2020 12:57 am

tybfc wrote:
Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:01 pm
Bit slow their spades.
Surprised you did not spot the two errors above your Majesty :D

spadesclaret
Posts: 3406
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:57 pm
Been Liked: 2147 times
Has Liked: 3782 times
Location: Norfolk

Re: FAO Spades

Post by spadesclaret » Wed Jul 01, 2020 1:49 am

The Enclosure wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 12:57 am
Surprised you did not spot the two errors above your Majesty :D

TheLovelyEnclosure, it was tybfc. What do you expect?

tybfc
Posts: 3325
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 8:21 pm
Been Liked: 1303 times
Has Liked: 318 times
Location: Accrington

Re: FAO Spades

Post by tybfc » Wed Jul 01, 2020 5:52 am

You to have taken the bait.
This user liked this post: mdd2

mdd2
Posts: 6012
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 8:47 pm
Been Liked: 1665 times
Has Liked: 700 times

Re: FAO Spades

Post by mdd2 » Wed Jul 01, 2020 8:24 am

spadesclaret wrote:
Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:36 pm
Hello huw.

'fewer' should be used when the subject you are talking about can be counted e.g. marbles - There are fewer marbles in my tin than in his.

'less' should be used when talking about one thing e.g. butter - There is less butter on my toast than on yours.

Always notice whether you are using 'are' and 'were' or 'is' and 'was'. Are/were = fewer. Is/was = less.
I think quite a few who post on here have lost their marbles.
At times it feels like I am one of them.
My hate is when people talk about something that differs to when I always feel it should be differ from, but maybe I am too much of a pedant.

mdd2
Posts: 6012
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 8:47 pm
Been Liked: 1665 times
Has Liked: 700 times

Re: FAO Spades

Post by mdd2 » Wed Jul 01, 2020 8:25 am

tybfc wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 5:52 am
You to have taken the bait.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

claretblue
Posts: 6410
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2016 3:36 pm
Been Liked: 1831 times
Has Liked: 961 times
Location: cloud 9 since Dyche appointed

Re: FAO Spades

Post by claretblue » Wed Jul 01, 2020 9:12 am

kritichris wrote:
Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:41 pm
The less said the better. (or not in this case)
should be:

The fewer said the butter! :?

:D

Redbeard
Posts: 2869
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:12 am
Been Liked: 1438 times
Has Liked: 2457 times
Location: Aboard ship somewhere on the Med.

Re: FAO Spades

Post by Redbeard » Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:06 am

The same applies with regard to 'amount' and 'number.'

An amount of money, for example, but a number of coins.

And most definitely NOT an 'amount' of people! :x

spadesclaret
Posts: 3406
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:57 pm
Been Liked: 2147 times
Has Liked: 3782 times
Location: Norfolk

Re: FAO Spades

Post by spadesclaret » Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:16 am

mdd2 wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 8:24 am
I think quite a few who post on here have lost their marbles.
At times it feels like I am one of them.
My hate is when people talk about something that differs to when I always feel it should be differ from, but maybe I am too much of a pedant.
Learned at school and never forgotten :-

"Similar to says sister sue,
Different from says brother Tom"
These 3 users liked this post: Redbeard mdd2 huw.Y.WattfromWare

spadesclaret
Posts: 3406
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:57 pm
Been Liked: 2147 times
Has Liked: 3782 times
Location: Norfolk

Re: FAO Spades

Post by spadesclaret » Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:19 am

Redbeard wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:06 am
The same applies with regard to 'amount' and 'number.'

An amount of money, for example, but a number of coins.

And most definitely NOT an 'amount' of people! :x
That one is probably my pet of all hates, Redbeard :oops:

Redbeard
Posts: 2869
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:12 am
Been Liked: 1438 times
Has Liked: 2457 times
Location: Aboard ship somewhere on the Med.

Re: FAO Spades

Post by Redbeard » Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:22 am

Mine too, Your Maj.

Does my head in! :( :lol:
This user liked this post: spadesclaret

The Enclosure
Posts: 4486
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 7:29 am
Been Liked: 990 times
Has Liked: 3266 times
Location: Burnley

Re: FAO Spades

Post by The Enclosure » Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:49 am

tybfc wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 5:52 am
You to have taken the bait.
Or perhaps it should be - You also have taken the bait, Or perhaps you meant that - You two have taken the bait?

Bosscat
Posts: 25359
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2018 9:51 am
Been Liked: 8426 times
Has Liked: 18093 times

Re: FAO Spades

Post by Bosscat » Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:50 am

Less is more 😉

mdd2
Posts: 6012
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 8:47 pm
Been Liked: 1665 times
Has Liked: 700 times

Re: FAO Spades

Post by mdd2 » Wed Jul 01, 2020 11:33 am

Moron minus the ox?

huw.Y.WattfromWare
Posts: 3393
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 7:04 pm
Been Liked: 1004 times
Has Liked: 905 times

Re: FAO Spades

Post by huw.Y.WattfromWare » Wed Jul 01, 2020 1:57 pm

Redbeard wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:22 am
Mine too, Your Maj.

Does my head in! :( :lol:
Hi, Red. Did your book ever make it to a publisher, Minnie.

Redbeard
Posts: 2869
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:12 am
Been Liked: 1438 times
Has Liked: 2457 times
Location: Aboard ship somewhere on the Med.

Re: FAO Spades

Post by Redbeard » Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:12 pm

All right there, mate? - Congrats on your new username. 8-)

I'm still writing the book! It's been eight years now, and I'm still only 70% done.

Thanks for your interest. :)

tybfc
Posts: 3325
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 8:21 pm
Been Liked: 1303 times
Has Liked: 318 times
Location: Accrington

Re: FAO Spades

Post by tybfc » Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:30 pm

Redbeard wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:12 pm
All right there, mate? - Congrats on your new username. 8-)

I'm still writing the book! It's been eight years now, and I'm still only 70% done.

Thanks for your interest. :)
Hope it's about Sean Dyche.

spadesclaret
Posts: 3406
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:57 pm
Been Liked: 2147 times
Has Liked: 3782 times
Location: Norfolk

Re: FAO Spades

Post by spadesclaret » Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:40 pm

Redbeard wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:12 pm
All right there, mate? - Congrats on your new username. 8-)

huw, what was your previous username?

Redbeard
Posts: 2869
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:12 am
Been Liked: 1438 times
Has Liked: 2457 times
Location: Aboard ship somewhere on the Med.

Re: FAO Spades

Post by Redbeard » Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:42 pm

No, Ty: it's about the fire brigade.

I'm sure Sean will write his own one day, though. 8-)

huw.Y.WattfromWare
Posts: 3393
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 7:04 pm
Been Liked: 1004 times
Has Liked: 905 times

Re: FAO Spades

Post by huw.Y.WattfromWare » Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:13 pm

spadesclaret wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:40 pm
huw, what was your previous username?
Keep this under your bonnet, your Maj.
MinnieClaret
PistonBroke
TrickyTrevor
Huw.....
Looks daft but somebody once accused me of posting to get likes so I quietly change every time I reach 1k.

huw.Y.WattfromWare
Posts: 3393
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 7:04 pm
Been Liked: 1004 times
Has Liked: 905 times

Re: FAO Spades

Post by huw.Y.WattfromWare » Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:15 pm

Redbeard wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:12 pm
All right there, mate? - Congrats on your new username. 8-)

I'm still writing the book! It's been eight years now, and I'm still only 70% done.

Thanks for your interest. :)
Still waiting as I’ll have one because I’ll know some of your colleagues.
You’ll make a fortune on the film rights.
This user liked this post: Redbeard

claretblue
Posts: 6410
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2016 3:36 pm
Been Liked: 1831 times
Has Liked: 961 times
Location: cloud 9 since Dyche appointed

Re: FAO Spades

Post by claretblue » Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:25 pm

huw.Y.WattfromWare wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:13 pm
Looks daft but somebody once accused me of posting to get likes so I quietly change every time I reach 1k.
I should ‘like’ your post
...but you’re clearly just posting to get one!

:D
This user liked this post: huw.Y.WattfromWare

spadesclaret
Posts: 3406
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:57 pm
Been Liked: 2147 times
Has Liked: 3782 times
Location: Norfolk

Re: FAO Spades

Post by spadesclaret » Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:31 pm

huw.Y.WattfromWare wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:13 pm
Keep this under your bonnet, your Maj.
MinnieClaret
PistonBroke
TrickyTrevor
Huw.....
Looks daft but somebody once accused me of posting to get likes so I quietly change every time I reach 1k.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

I think I once said Tricky Trevor was my favourite poster :)
This user liked this post: huw.Y.WattfromWare

huw.Y.WattfromWare
Posts: 3393
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 7:04 pm
Been Liked: 1004 times
Has Liked: 905 times

Re: FAO Spades

Post by huw.Y.WattfromWare » Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:33 pm

I’d have no idea why but thank you.xx

spadesclaret
Posts: 3406
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:57 pm
Been Liked: 2147 times
Has Liked: 3782 times
Location: Norfolk

Re: FAO Spades

Post by spadesclaret » Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:37 pm

huw.Y.WattfromWare wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:33 pm
I’d have no idea why but thank you.xx
I think you said something nice about me but I can't remember what or why.

tybfc
Posts: 3325
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 8:21 pm
Been Liked: 1303 times
Has Liked: 318 times
Location: Accrington

Re: FAO Spades

Post by tybfc » Wed Jul 01, 2020 5:08 pm

spadesclaret wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:37 pm
I think you said something nice about me but I can't remember what or why.
He clearly has problems :lol:

huw.Y.WattfromWare
Posts: 3393
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 7:04 pm
Been Liked: 1004 times
Has Liked: 905 times

Re: FAO Spades

Post by huw.Y.WattfromWare » Wed Jul 01, 2020 5:42 pm

tybfc wrote:
Wed Jul 01, 2020 5:08 pm
He clearly has problems :lol:
Sorry but it’s difficult not to kind to someone who educates me, posts beautiful pictures and avoids political threads.
This user liked this post: spadesclaret

tybfc
Posts: 3325
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 8:21 pm
Been Liked: 1303 times
Has Liked: 318 times
Location: Accrington

Re: FAO Spades

Post by tybfc » Wed Jul 01, 2020 6:17 pm

Oh I know and those are her bad days

spadesclaret
Posts: 3406
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:57 pm
Been Liked: 2147 times
Has Liked: 3782 times
Location: Norfolk

Re: FAO Spades

Post by spadesclaret » Wed Jul 01, 2020 6:45 pm

Ty, I am so pleased you are feeling better.

Post Reply