Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Less or fewer?

Lessor fewer? Themisuse of these two words is far more common than it need be, even at the handsof so-called professional journalists. The distinction is relativelystraightforward and the mix-up probably results from the fact that we tend touse 'less' for more or less all situations.
'Less'should be used for quantities that cannot be counted. So, for example, conceptsand qualities generally can't be counted and you would say (or write) 'lessfreedom', 'less love', 'less crime' (when referring to the general activityrather than to the individual criminal acts).
'Fewer'is used for all situations where the items or objects can be counted. So youwould write or say, 'fewer privileges', 'fewer lovers', 'fewer murders'.
'Ittook less time than Jennifer expected to get rid of Jeffrey and suddenly shehad fewer lovers.'
'Jeffreywas less concerned about Jennifer's clothes than she was and he soon had herbody covered by fewer garments.'
Thinkabout it like this: if it's possible to have a few of them, use 'fewer'.But,if you can't count individual items, use 'less'.
12 August 1981 – IBM launched the PC.
Pic: Ripening corn.