one fewer/less

MikeyC   Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:18 am GMT
Which would you recommend using here?

One fewer player than last season.
One less player than last season.
Monster of Loch Ness   Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:32 am GMT
less
Damian in WC2   Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:51 am GMT
I agree with the Monster -----> LTNS.....why so shy these days?
Rapp   Wed Jul 08, 2009 12:31 pm GMT
It should be fewer, since players are discrete units, but the use of less in this situation is very, very common.
Monster of Loch Ness   Wed Jul 08, 2009 12:51 pm GMT
http://www.cartoonstock.com/cartpreview.asp?imageref=rjo0005
tbd   Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:53 pm GMT
fewer is about number, less is about volume
fewer people, less water etc.

Like Rapp says, real usage doesn't always follow this model. For example, in grocery store lines in the US its common to see a sign saying:

"This line 10 items or less"
Kaeops   Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:05 pm GMT
One fewer player than last season.
One less player than last season.

ONE FEWER PLAYER or ONE PLAYER LESS