what's the difference?
thanks in advance.
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- rfernandez
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In one usage, they function the same way, though maybe "far less" is a bit stronger?
"We have far less time than I thought we did."
"We have much less time than I thought we did."
"much less" can also be used this way:
"My dog cannot walk, much less run, until the stitches are removed." [far less cannot function in this way]
"We have far less time than I thought we did."
"We have much less time than I thought we did."
"much less" can also be used this way:
"My dog cannot walk, much less run, until the stitches are removed." [far less cannot function in this way]
- RonPurewal
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my two cents:
in my reading and observation, i have seen 'far less' used almost exclusively as an ADVERB, while 'much less' is widely used as either an adverb or an adjective.
so, the above sentence ('far less time') violates that principle, and so MAY be considered unidiomatic. again, i don't work for gmac, but that's my take (and i read lots and lots and lots of formal writing).
on the other hand, you could equally well see either of the following:
i work out much less than i used to
i work out far less than i used to
i prefer the second version, but i'm pretty sure that either is acceptable.
i would reserve any judgment on this matter, though, until there is evidence from official problems.
in my reading and observation, i have seen 'far less' used almost exclusively as an ADVERB, while 'much less' is widely used as either an adverb or an adjective.
so, the above sentence ('far less time') violates that principle, and so MAY be considered unidiomatic. again, i don't work for gmac, but that's my take (and i read lots and lots and lots of formal writing).
on the other hand, you could equally well see either of the following:
i work out much less than i used to
i work out far less than i used to
i prefer the second version, but i'm pretty sure that either is acceptable.
i would reserve any judgment on this matter, though, until there is evidence from official problems.
- H
Hi Ron,
In fact, a question from OG prefers "far less" over "much less" to modify a noun.
Since I am not allowed to post the whole question.
I will post just one sentence:
Although many art patrons can readily differentiate a good debenture from an undesirable one, they are far less expert in distinguishing good paintings from poor ones, authentic art from fakes.
The OG explanation explicitly says, "far is a better modifier of less expert than much is in A and C"
It is from an OG published in 1986.
By the way, I still want to know where to find "formal" articles to read...although it seems kind of late in the game =(
In fact, a question from OG prefers "far less" over "much less" to modify a noun.
Since I am not allowed to post the whole question.
I will post just one sentence:
Although many art patrons can readily differentiate a good debenture from an undesirable one, they are far less expert in distinguishing good paintings from poor ones, authentic art from fakes.
The OG explanation explicitly says, "far is a better modifier of less expert than much is in A and C"
It is from an OG published in 1986.
By the way, I still want to know where to find "formal" articles to read...although it seems kind of late in the game =(
- esledge
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Hi, "H," thanks for the follow-up with that old OG question. It's so old, in fact, that I wonder whether the GMAC still tests this issue. I will reserve judgement until faced with more recent evidence, but my ear is telling me that Rey's sentences are all fine.
As for sources, here are a few to get you started. These would probably be good for RC practice, as well. The following describe scholarly research in relatively formal prose, with the aim of making the research intelligible to educated non-specialists:
http://magazine.uchicago.edu/ - particularly articles in the "Investigations" tab
http://harvardmagazine.com/
http://sciam.com/
As for sources, here are a few to get you started. These would probably be good for RC practice, as well. The following describe scholarly research in relatively formal prose, with the aim of making the research intelligible to educated non-specialists:
http://magazine.uchicago.edu/ - particularly articles in the "Investigations" tab
http://harvardmagazine.com/
http://sciam.com/
Emily Sledge
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- JonathanSchneider
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