Passage of time ...

BigV · 03-02-2012, 11:42 AM

while we're on the subject of TEN.

Please help me with this one.

"The handle saver cost less than ten dollars."

or

"The handle saver cost fewer than ten dollars."

***

Honestly, when I have a puzzle like this I prefer to change the structure to be less ambiguous. "The price of the handle saver was under ten dollars."

Spexxvet · 03-02-2012, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

while we're on the subject of TEN.

Please help me with this one.

"The handle saver cost less than ten dollars."

or

"The handle saver cost fewer than ten dollars."

***

Honestly, when I have a puzzle like this I prefer to change the structure to be less ambiguous. "The price of the handle saver was under ten dollars."

If you can count them, it's fewer, if not, it's less.

Fewer dollars
Less water

BigV · 03-02-2012, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

If you can count them, it's fewer, if not, it's less.

Fewer dollars
Less water

Yep, I know this rule, it's why I even bothered to reframe it in my mind. And the "correct" version "sounds" wrong.

the handle saver cost less than ten dollars.

that sounds right, but is contrary to the rule, so, I asked...

HungLikeJesus · 03-02-2012, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

Yep, I know this rule, it's why I even bothered to reframe it in my mind. And the "correct" version "sounds" wrong.

the handle saver cost less than ten dollars.

that sounds right, but is contrary to the rule, so, I asked...

That depends; do you consider dollars to be a mass noun or a count noun? If you are just referring to dollar bills, than the cost is a count noun and you should say fewer than $10. If the price can be $9.999r, than it could be treated as a mass noun and you could say less than $10.

classicman · 03-02-2012, 11:51 AM

"The handle saver costs under ten dollars."

View Poll Results: Which is better ...
Ten years has passed since he decided to start a business.	2	12.50%
Ten years have passed since he decided to start a business.	14	87.50%
Something else, and Imma gonna tell you!	0	0%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

03-02-2012, 11:42 AM	#1
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	while we're on the subject of TEN. Please help me with this one. "The handle saver cost less than ten dollars." or "The handle saver cost fewer than ten dollars." *** Honestly, when I have a puzzle like this I prefer to change the structure to be less ambiguous. "The price of the handle saver was under ten dollars." __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

03-02-2012, 11:51 AM	#5
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	"The handle saver costs under ten dollars." __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

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