THIS WAS SENT OUT TO THE ENTIRE NEWSROOM BY THE KMOV MORNING EXECUTIVE PRODUCER. KIND OF SAD.
Guys, I sent this out to the morning team but thought it might be helpful for others as well.
Kara
Less and Fewer
Writers often misuse the words 'less' and 'fewer'. The word 'less' should be used for a single item (e.g., less time); whereas, 'fewer' should be used when there is more than one item (e.g., fewer mice).
Examples:
There is less cheese on this plate. - CORRECT
(cheese - singular)
There are fewer pieces of cheese on this plate. - CORRECT
(pieces - plural)
There are less pigeons in Trafalgar Square than there used to be. - WRONG
In the future, there will be less coins in circulation. - WRONG
Fewer people will vote in the forthcoming elections. - CORRECT
What's the difference between farther and further?
Farther means "more distant" and is usually measurable, as in these examples:
Is El Paso farther from Dallas or Los Angeles?
John decided to climb farther into the cave.
Sometimes farther can be used more figuratively, such as:
My best friend and I drifted farther apart.
Further is a more abstract term meaning time or quantity ("more" or "additional"), as in these examples:
Katie developed further complications.
Jim needs to research the subject further.
In writing, you'd be okay to use further any time you don't apply it to a distance.
This will only get worse, well-intentioned guidance like this notwithstanding. Don't news departments use stylebooks or Strunk & White anymore?
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