English Reference Book

8. Many – More – Fewer – Less.a. Use the words fewer and many to qualify any noun that refers to items that canbe counted (‘fewer incidents’, ‘fewer weapons’, ‘many periods’, ‘many people’).b. Use the words less and much to qualify a noun which refers to items that cannotbe counted (quantity rather than number); we cannot write ‘2 ammunitions’ or ‘5sand’, so write ‘less ammunition’ and ‘much sand’).c. The source of people’s problems here is probably the word more, as it is usedfor both number and quantity. You can have more or less bread (quantity) but wouldhave more or fewer loaves (number).ErrorCorrection1 The completion of the new runwayshould result in less complaints aboutlow flying.The completion of the new runwayshould result in fewer complaints aboutlow flying.2 The measures taken by the Flight SafetyCommittee will produce fewer airmisses, misunderstandings and danger.The measures taken by the Flight SafetyCommittee will produce fewer air missesand misunderstandings and less danger.9. Consistency with Possessive Determiners. Once a possessive determiner hasbeen used, take care to preserve consistency.ErrorCorrection1 Britain bases its policy on nucleardeterrence. Britain commits the majorityof her forces to NATO.2 Britain assigns most of her combatforces to NATO, but retains its tankersquadrons under national command.Britain bases its policy on nucleardeterrence. Britain commits the majorityof its forces to NATO.Britain assigns most of her combatforces to NATO, but retains her tankersquadrons under national command.or ‘its’ and ‘its’3-3