"or less" instead of "or fewer"

loroku

This game messes up the use of the word "less" every single time that I've seen it used. To indicate a smaller quantity, you say "fewer", not "less" - as in, "3 or fewer," not "3 or less." It's a fairly common grammar error ("10 items or less" lines mess it up, too) but the sheer number of times this game uses it incorrectly is impressive. Many cards have this verbiage and nearly every single "story" match uses it for their bonus objectives. I think you could find/replace "less" for "fewer" and come out ahead.

mlktws

It's not a hard and fast rule. It may be irksome, but it's fine.

The use of "it's" is often incorrect, though. Maybe gripe about that, instead.

Irgy

Ugh now a third thread on this non-issue.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fewer_vs._less
"this rule does not correctly describe the most common usage of today or the past and in fact arose as an incorrect generalization of a personal preference expressed by a grammarian in 1770."

This is not a rule that needs enforcing it is a disease which needs curing.

loroku

I thought you descriptive grammarians weren't rules-enforcers, but it seems you're just as irked by a prescriptive perspective. (Or maybe you're a prescriptive grammarian in disguise, except you believe the proper rule is "don't follow this rule?" Yes, if something "is a disease," I'm pretty sure this is the case.)

Either way, fair enough. I will grant that there are bugs worse than this to be attended to.

mlktws

Neither of us said anything which indicates conclusively that we are descriptivists or prescriptivists; we both pointed out that the less/fewer quibble isn't based on a true rule. If you're to consider yourself a prescriptivist, you should better acquaint yourself with what is and isn't to be prescribed.

loroku

mlktws wrote:

Neither of us said anything which indicates conclusively that we are descriptivists or prescriptivists; we both pointed out that the less/fewer quibble isn't based on a true rule. If you're to consider yourself a prescriptivist, you should better acquaint yourself with what is and isn't to be prescribed.

We're wildly off topic, but a) I don't, and b) that's just what a descriptivist would say!

mlktws

1) The topic was grammar; we have not gone wildly off-topic. Off-topic from the game, oh fer sher, but from the post? I don't see that we have. Any off-topic-goings rests on you for bringing up grammar. Just saying
2) You seemed to ally yourself with prescriptivists when you set yourself apart from descriptivists. Despite my stance, I assumed you were one or the other. I'm sorry for making us donkeys Out of curiosity: if you're neither a prescriptivist nor a descriptivist, as what do you consider yourself?
3) It's what anyone with a knowledge of or interest in grammar, and a liking for correctness might say; it doesn't imply either descriptivism or prescriptivism, and for the record, I'm neither.
4) My previous thumbs-up was for being aware that there are such things as prescriptivism and descriptivism, not for any specific content in your posts.
Yay, grammar and kindred spirits.