Illecors@lemmy.cafe to Mildly Infuriating@lemmy.worldEnglish · edit-28 months agoPeople using 'less' when they should be using 'fewer'message-squaremessage-square136fedilinkarrow-up1168arrow-down123
arrow-up1145arrow-down1message-squarePeople using 'less' when they should be using 'fewer'Illecors@lemmy.cafe to Mildly Infuriating@lemmy.worldEnglish · edit-28 months agomessage-square136fedilink
minus-squarePons_Aelius@kbin.sociallinkfedilinkarrow-up12arrow-down1·8 months agoPeople thinking the English language is static and has to follow rules. This Is English, my friend. The top dog of non-proscriptive languages where meanings change over time and reflect current usage. Want to force everyone to follow the rules? Start speaking French.
minus-squareHeartyBeast@kbin.sociallinkfedilinkarrow-up2arrow-down2·8 months agoIt is also a tool to allow common understanding between a diverse group of people. I’m not saying that less/fewer is an important rule. However ‘anything goes’ is going to have an impact on people’s understanding of bothe you and your message
minus-squarePons_Aelius@kbin.sociallinkfedilinkarrow-up6arrow-down1·8 months agoI’m not saying anything goes either but if people around you use less and fewer interchangeably, there is no communication breakdown at all. Do you know the correct times to use practice vs practise?
minus-squareIllecors@lemmy.cafeOPlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up0·8 months agoNoun vs verb? That’s the case with licence vs license, at least.
minus-squareTurtleTourParty@midwest.sociallinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up3·edit-28 months agoThey’re both license in American English. Edit: Same for practice.
People thinking the English language is static and has to follow rules.
This Is English, my friend. The top dog of non-proscriptive languages where meanings change over time and reflect current usage.
Want to force everyone to follow the rules?
Start speaking French.
It is also a tool to allow common understanding between a diverse group of people. I’m not saying that less/fewer is an important rule. However ‘anything goes’ is going to have an impact on people’s understanding of bothe you and your message
I’m not saying anything goes either but if people around you use less and fewer interchangeably, there is no communication breakdown at all.
Do you know the correct times to use practice vs practise?
Noun vs verb? That’s the case with licence vs license, at least.
They’re both license in American English.
Edit: Same for practice.