Template:U:en:less and fewer

Some[*] regard the use of the determiner less with countable quantities to be incorrect, stating that less should indicate only a reduction in uncountable quantity, or in size or significance, leaving fewer to indicate a smaller numerical quantity. For example, they suggest saying less sugar, but fewer people, not less people. Such a rule can allow distinctions such as: Nevertheless, less has been widely understood and commonly used as a synonym for fewer since it first appeared in Old English as læs.
 * Their troubles are fewer than ours, meaning "Their troubles are not so numerous as ours."
 * Their troubles are less than ours, meaning "Their troubles are not so great as ours."