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submitted 6 months ago by naturalgasbad@lemmy.ca to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml
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[-] otp@sh.itjust.works 18 points 6 months ago

"Less" is usually for non-countable objects, while "fewer" is for countable.

"Less slime" vs. "Fewer bees"

[-] Rodeo@lemmy.ca 12 points 6 months ago

The comparison in this case is operating on the word half, not on the subject of the sentence:

Only half want to get married, even less [than half] want kids.

[-] fireweed@lemmy.world 11 points 6 months ago

It could actually go either way, based on the title:

Only half of South Koreans willing to marry; even less [than half] want kids

Or

Only half of South Koreans willing to marry; even fewer [South Koreans] want kids

I'm inclined to lean toward the second. "Even less than half" sounds a lot clunkier than "even fewer South Koreans," so it's not surprising other readers assumed the latter.

[-] otp@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago

You're definitely right!

this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2024
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