Fewer not Less. Less not Fewer.

pixabay.com

I have a pet peeve. 

People - yes, maybe even you - are using the words "fewer" and "less" incorrectly. I don't know why but it's happening. I see it all the time.

There were less people at the event than I thought. 

He'll be home in fewer than 5 weeks.

I'm sorry but that's just not right. At some point, folks just flipped the switch and used these words in place of each other. It's one of the enduring mysteries of my life that I don't know why that is.

So, I was happy to find an old New York Times piece that clarifies things: 

Fewer = use with things you can count, discrete items.

Less = use with things that are uncountable or pertain to volumes or with quantities that are considered a bulk amount.

To go back to the sentences above:

There were fewer people at the event than I thought. 

He'll be home in less than 5 weeks.

There - I feel better now. 

OK rant over. Normal service resumes next week.