Fewer vs. Less: The Grocery Store Mistake Everyone Makes
If you've ever strolled through the aisles of your local grocery store, you’ve likely come across signs that say “10 items or less” or “Fewer than 5 items in line.” While these signs are helpful for making sure your shopping trip goes smoothly, they often make a common grammar mistake that trips up even the most well-meaning shoppers: the confusion between fewer and less.
So, what’s the big deal? Is it really that important to know which one to use? In short: yes, it is. While the difference between fewer and less may seem subtle, getting it right not only helps your writing sound more polished but also makes sure you're following one of the basic rules of English grammar. Let’s break it down.
What’s the Difference?
The key to understanding fewer vs. less lies in whether you’re talking about something countable or something uncountable.
Fewer is used for things you can count. Think of individual, discrete items.
Examples: fewer apples, fewer bottles, fewer shoppers in line.
Less is used for things you can’t count or things that are measured in bulk or volume.
Examples: less milk, less sugar, less time to shop.
Why Does It Matter in the Grocery Store?
Grocery stores are a prime example of where people mix up fewer and less because of the way we think about food and quantities. Let’s look at a few common mistakes.
"10 Items or Less"
This is a classic example. When you’re talking about the number of items in your shopping cart, you should actually use fewer because items are countable. The correct sign should read:
“10 Items or Fewer.”
Even though it’s widely accepted in everyday language, grammarians argue that using less here is technically wrong."Less than 5 items in line"
Again, items are countable, so the sign should read:
“Fewer than 5 items in line.”
Less is used for things like “less sugar” or “less salt,” which can’t be counted individually.“Less Produce on Sale”
Produce is something you might think of as “less” because it often comes in bulk (e.g., less fruit in the basket), but technically, you should still say fewer if you’re referring to specific types of produce. For example:
“Fewer bananas” vs. “Less fruit.”
Why Do We Make This Mistake?
The confusion between fewer and less arises because in casual speech, the distinction is often blurred. We tend to use less for convenience, and because “less” sounds better when we talk about quantities in a general sense, such as time, money, or volume. This is why it’s easy for grocery stores to accidentally put “10 items or less” on their signs—it just sounds more natural to the ear.
How to Remember Which One to Use
Here’s a simple tip to keep the fewer vs. less confusion at bay: If you can count the thing, use fewer; if you can’t count it, use less.
Think of it this way:
Countable = fewer (e.g., apples, eggs, tickets).
Uncountable = less (e.g., milk, sugar, time).
Be a Grammar-Smart Shopper
Next time you’re at the grocery store and you spot a sign that says “10 items or less,” you can smile to yourself, knowing that the sign is technically incorrect. But, if you’re ever in charge of designing signs or just want to improve your own writing, remember: fewer is for countable items, and less is for uncountable ones.
By paying attention to these small details, you can sharpen your grammar skills—and maybe even help others improve theirs. After all, a little grammar knowledge goes a long way—even in the grocery store!