DD> There are less sparrows along the Gwydir Highway than there
 DD> used to be.

 BL> I think you may find that your Macquarie gives "fewer" as a
 BL> secondary meaning for "less." There is nothing wrong with
"less
 BL> sparrows" unless you are Frank.

 FM> There is nothing wrong with less sparrows, but David meant
 FM> fewer.

  "Fewer" is what "less sparrows" means in that context.

  The word has become so corrupted that it could not be used in any
other way, in that context. This is what annoys me about so-called
"modern" usage. A perfectly good word becomes useless and you are
forced to use a phrase instead. The classic is "gay". What do you now
use for gay? It's a lovely word with hundreds of years of meaning
behind it... destroyed in a fortnight of sad homosexuals looking for a
better image that won't work anyway. A poofter by any other name still
roots arseholes. They can call themselves cuddly Koalas and in a month
the meaning will be the same as before.

  Image advertising is worse. I'd ban all image advertising. I'd put a
supertax on image advertising. Or shoot the fokkers.

Regards,
Bob
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12
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