It's the fewest votes... - The X Factor

gogledd · 10-11-2009, 19:54

.... not the least.

It's doing my head in.

Still, at least Dermy manages to get it right

*sits back and waits for accusations of pedantry*

Lizzy11268 · 10-11-2009, 19:56

Don't be pedantic

fairycakes · 10-11-2009, 19:57

Whats the difference?

gogledd · 10-11-2009, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizzy11268

Don't be pedantic

One....

gogledd · 10-11-2009, 20:00

Duplicate post

gogledd · 10-11-2009, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairycakes

Whats the difference?

If I reply, I fear that will make me seem even more pedantic...

neelia · 10-11-2009, 20:04

Yeah gogled

Please pull me up if I make this mistake.

I am having to steel myself to deal with the misuse of the term "sour grapes" when we get the results.

As it is my head is being done in by people saying that most votes means most voters and
the least votes means least popular.

_Zd_Phoenix_ · 10-11-2009, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by gogledd

.... not the least.

Doesn't he say 'least number'?

Fringo · 10-11-2009, 20:06

Sorry but isn't "the least" and "the fewest" actually the same thing....Now I know on BB they always get this wrong and it is grammatically incorrect but not for "least" and "fewest".....cant' recall now how it goes wrong!

I'm obviously wrong but I do remember getting riled on BB with the vernacular on this but I now can't see it!

Pedant away please!!!

neelia · 10-11-2009, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairycakes

Whats the difference?

Very roughly
fewest means a smaller number
least is a smaller ammout.

It is to do with the fact that votes are countable, i.e you can count them.

You would have fewer potatoes but less cabbage

Oh I really hope I've got that right

neelia · 10-11-2009, 20:08

This could be pedants corner. A safe refuge

Fringo · 10-11-2009, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by neelia

This could be pedants corner. A safe refuge

I LOVE a bit of pedantry me!

fairycakes · 10-11-2009, 20:10

I`m seriously confused! Maths isn`t my strong point even with somethign as simple as this

Lucylock · 10-11-2009, 20:12

I think The X Factor should use the Pop Idol format, then at least none of the judges would look like hypocrites

Fringo · 10-11-2009, 20:12

Oh it was something to do with the "least amount of votes"...

No it's gone again....

Thanks for your explanation Neelia but I'm still none the wiser!

neelia · 10-11-2009, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairycakes

I`m seriously confused! Maths isn`t my strong point even with somethign as simple as this

take potatoes. Can you see that you could count your chips but not count your mashed potatoe.

Votes can be counted.

neelia · 10-11-2009, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fringo

Oh it was something to do with the "least amount of votes"...

No it's gone again....

Thanks for your explanation Neelia but I'm still none the wiser!

Maybe not but hopefully better informed

Sorry couldn't resist. Apparantly a judge asked a barrister a question and said what you said when he got the explaination. The barrister responded "maybe not My Lord but hopefully better informed"

I know what I mean but I am probably not explaining it properly.
I think it is one of those things like Winnie the Pooh says. It seems like one thing in my head but a completely different thing when it is outside and has other people looking at it!

fairycakes · 10-11-2009, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by neelia

take potatoes. Can you see that you could count your chips but not count your mashed potatoe.

Votes can be counted.

Yeah I can see that. But in the opening post isn`t fewest the same as least? Plus the only thing being counted is votes so theres nothing to compare it with. Unless least can`t be used to describe an exact amount?

Fringo · 10-11-2009, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by neelia

take potatoes. Can you see that you could count your chips but not count your mashed potatoe.

Votes can be counted.

Right I kind of get the potato analogy - I still am a little befuddled.

So least is just less than the most but fewest is the actually the lowest?

I've even read this and I'm not sure I understand (I'm not totally asinine but I feel it currently!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/le...rnitv260.shtml

neelia · 10-11-2009, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairycakes

Yeah I can see that. But in the opening post isn`t fewest the same as least? Plus the only thing being counted is votes so theres nothing to compare it with. Unless least can`t be used to describe an exact amount?

I think it is that you have least mash but fewest chips. So you use fewest when you have things you can count and least when you have something you can't.

Therefore you say "fewest votes" rather than "least votes"

neelia · 10-11-2009, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fringo

Right I kind of get the potato analogy - I still am a little befuddled.

So least is just less than the most but fewest is the actually the lowest?

I've even read this and I'm not sure I understand (I'm not totally asinine but I feel it currently!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/le...rnitv260.shtml

no you don't use least and fewest in the same situations. You use least when you have something that isn't countable and fewest when you have something that is.

gogledd · 10-11-2009, 20:40

Sorry, I was off on another thread! Wasn't ducking out, honest...

OK, difference between fewest and least - 'fewest' is the superlative of 'few' and 'least' is the superlative of 'little' , so you if you can replace 'fewest' with 'few' (or 'least' with 'little') and it still makes sense, you have it right:

Eg, 'Bill only has a few votes' makes sense - 'Bill only has a little votes' doesn't.
Likewise, 'Bill has littler votes than Jane' doesn't make sense - 'Bill has fewer votes than Jane' does .
'Bill has the littler (or littlest, or indeed least) votes of all the contestants' doesn't make sense - 'Bill has the fewest votes... etc etc' does.

Generally speaking, 'fewer/fewest' is used for quantities (countable nouns), 'less/least' for mass, volume or bulk (uncountable nouns). So Neelia's 'fewer potatoes, less cabbage' example chimes with this.

So all those supermarket Express Checkouts saying '6 items or less' are WRONG! (and similarly bring out the pedant in me....)

Mr Blonde · 10-11-2009, 20:42

Least sounds better than fewest...fewest sounds posh...I'll stick with least to keep it real like John and Edward...

gogledd · 10-11-2009, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Blonde

Least sounds better than fewest...fewest sounds posh...I'll stick with least to keep it real like John and Edward...

Real, but ungrammatical...

Nothing posh about using the correct grammar, Mr Blonde.

Nor unreal, for that matter.

10-11-2009, 19:54	#1
gogledd Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Wales Posts: 371	It's the fewest votes... .... not the least. It's doing my head in. Still, at least Dermy manages to get it right sits back and waits for accusations of pedantry

10-11-2009, 19:56	#2
Lizzy11268 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5,010	Don't be pedantic

10-11-2009, 19:57	#3
fairycakes Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Jedward Land! Services: Officially in love with Mr. John Grimes :) Posts: 2,467	Whats the difference?

10-11-2009, 20:00	#5
gogledd Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Wales Posts: 371	Duplicate post

10-11-2009, 20:04	#7
neelia Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 9,600	Yeah gogled Please pull me up if I make this mistake. I am having to steel myself to deal with the misuse of the term "sour grapes" when we get the results. As it is my head is being done in by people saying that most votes means most voters and the least votes means least popular.

10-11-2009, 20:06	#9
Fringo Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: London Posts: 3,376	Sorry but isn't "the least" and "the fewest" actually the same thing....Now I know on BB they always get this wrong and it is grammatically incorrect but not for "least" and "fewest".....cant' recall now how it goes wrong! I'm obviously wrong but I do remember getting riled on BB with the vernacular on this but I now can't see it! Pedant away please!!!

10-11-2009, 20:08	#11
neelia Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 9,600	This could be pedants corner. A safe refuge

10-11-2009, 20:10	#13
fairycakes Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Jedward Land! Services: Officially in love with Mr. John Grimes :) Posts: 2,467	I`m seriously confused! Maths isn`t my strong point even with somethign as simple as this

10-11-2009, 20:12	#14
Lucylock Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 418	I think The X Factor should use the Pop Idol format, then at least none of the judges would look like hypocrites

10-11-2009, 20:40	#22
gogledd Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Wales Posts: 371	Sorry, I was off on another thread! Wasn't ducking out, honest... OK, difference between fewest and least - 'fewest' is the superlative of 'few' and 'least' is the superlative of 'little' , so you if you can replace 'fewest' with 'few' (or 'least' with 'little') and it still makes sense, you have it right: Eg, 'Bill only has a few votes' makes sense - 'Bill only has a little votes' doesn't. Likewise, 'Bill has littler votes than Jane' doesn't make sense - 'Bill has fewer votes than Jane' does . 'Bill has the littler (or littlest, or indeed least) votes of all the contestants' doesn't make sense - 'Bill has the fewest votes... etc etc' does. Generally speaking, 'fewer/fewest' is used for quantities (countable nouns), 'less/least' for mass, volume or bulk (uncountable nouns). So Neelia's 'fewer potatoes, less cabbage' example chimes with this. So all those supermarket Express Checkouts saying '6 items or less' are WRONG! (and similarly bring out the pedant in me....)

10-11-2009, 20:42	#23
Mr Blonde Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: London Posts: 9,220	Least sounds better than fewest...fewest sounds posh...I'll stick with least to keep it real like John and Edward...