Grammar Lesson #3: Fewer/Fess, Much/Many, Continual/Continuous

How to use fewer/less, much/many, continual/continuous

These are pairs of words that mean the same but are used in different situations. Fewer, many, and continual are for things that can be counted one at a time. Less, much, and continuous are for things that have infinite variations of degrees or volume. (In math terms, it’s the difference between discrete and continuous.)

You can have less time but fewer hours; much money but many coins. You can be interrupted continually but hear a hum continuously.

Most people use much and many just fine but have problems with the other two. Much goes with less (and continuous), and many goes with fewer (and continual).