Comment on How Dating Apps Are Squeezing More Money Out of Less People
deranger@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
Fewer* people. If you can count it, it’s fewer. If not, it’s less, e.g. less money, fewer dollars.
Language is defined by how it’s used, if it’s common for people to say “less” then that is correct. Trying to define the only “correct” usage counter to how people actually use the language is prescriptivism, which rarely changes how people actually speak. The only real use of prescriptivism is elitism.
You clearly understood what was said, you just wanted to announce you’re “better” at English.
I would normally agree with you.
But just as it’s okay for people to speak the way they want, it’s also okay for people to spread language knowledge. Then let the people decide whether they want to use that knowledge or not.
It’s not like OP said “it’s ‘fewer’, you idiot!” In that case, I’d say it’s elitism. Otherwise, it’s just a useful lemmy comment.
Hard disagree; it’s not a useful comment precisely because it’s prescriptivism. It’s suggesting people are incorrect because they’re using a commonly accepted meaning of a word, that’s just not how language works.
Interesting! Today I learned, then. Thanks.
Now, and this I’m going to say in a sort-of tongue-in-cheek manner, what’s your opinion on the recent change of the meaning of “literally”? Because that one is definitely less (ha!) than 200 years old.
yu dont even not understand how to not speak good yerself
What the equivalent opposite of fewer?
manyer
More.
foiledAgain@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Thanks Stannis