Saturday, November 20, 2010

"LESS THAN" VS "LESSER THAN"

Q. With total sales of less than three hundred thousand dollars and fewer new subscribers than last year, the New England Theater Company is in danger of losing its building.

A. of less than three hundred thousand dollars and fewer

B. lower than three hundred thousand dollars and less

C. lesser than three hundred thousand dollars and fewer

D. fewer than three hundred thousand dollars and less

E. of fewer than three hundred thousand dollars and of fewer

For countable nouns we use "fewer".  So, it comes down to A, C and E. E uses "of fewer", which is not correct. "Lesser than" is idiomatically incorrect, "Less Than" is correct. Therefore, A is correct.

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