Less is more -- sometimes, but not this time!

While "less is more" is often true (as in decorating and accessorizing), "less" is different from "more" in this sense: "More" is easy...it applies to things you can count and things you can't. "Less" applies to uncountable things (like taste), and "fewer" applies to countable things (like potatoes).

Some examples:

I want more bananas.
Correct! You can count a number of bananas.

I want more banana bread, please.
Correct! You presumably want another portion, or a larger portion, and I don't blame you.

So "more" works in either case: countable or uncountable.

I want less bananas.
Nope; this is wrong. If it's a quantity that you can count, and you don't want more or the same number, then you want "fewer," not "less."
I want fewer bananas.
Correct.

I want less banana bread.
Correct. Perfect. More for me.

So "less" varies by context, which makes it tricky to use. So try to give your listeners or readers a clue whenever you can. If they hear or see "fewer," they can expect less of something countable. If they hear or see "less," they can expect less of something abstract or uncountable.

Your turn!

• I've had (less or fewer) mojitos than you.
• Express lane: 10 items or (less or fewer).
• They have (less or fewer) pennies, and even (less or fewer) sense.