3mo ago

Sydney's car-brained candidate for Mayor

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“Fewer” since they are countable.
ETA this is basic grammar and not something you can just take exception with because you feel like it. The responses I’m receiving are very odd.
- He could just make them shorter.
- If there are two bike lanes merging into one, there are one, two or three bike lanes?
  
  Water isn’t countable but lanes are.
  
  I mean, technically water is countable
  
  How many waters in that glass?
  
  Depends on if you're using water to include types of water (if, like a maniacal madman, you have mixed Evian, Buxton and Harrogate mineral water into one jug). Then 'i mixed fewer waters' or 'there are fewer waters in that glass' would be valid.
  To be clear: I'm not the person you replied to, just someone who finds it quite interesting (in the same way that the plural fishes is valid if you're talking about different species of fish).
  And yes, I know prescriptivism is bad, but also it is quite fun.
  
  Those are homonyms. Water versus waters. The second one is metaphorical.
  I did enjoy your comment and you sound like you’ve had some linguistic training.
  
  Or just atoms of water
  
  Eh, you wouldn't use the noun water to refer to atoms of water. 'How many waters are there?' to refer to atoms of water is the statement of someone deranged
  
  Water only exists as atoms. There is no non-discrete water, it is inherently in reality discrete.
  
  I believe there are about 55.508435 moles of H₂O in a liter of water at sea level (basically assuming 1 liter of water = 1kg of water)
  
  A mole is countable. Water is not.
  
  Atoms of water are measured in moles. Atoms are discrete units, a mole is just a certain number of them
  
  So you understand then why water is uncountable but atoms are not. Congratulations. What a strange pedantic hill you choosing to die on.
  
  No, water is countable. Unfortunately you are incorrect.
  EDIT: the word "water" isn't usually made plural, but water the substance can absolutely be measured and counted.
  
  Sorry but some nouns (ie cats) can be counted while others (ie air) cannot be.
  
  Then count. One, two or three?
  
  How many water in your glass?
  
  If there are two bike lanes merging into one, there are one, two or three bike lanes?
  Water isn’t countable but lanes are.
  What question are you answering?
- They are indeed... Where did the whole "if two bike lanes converge" question come from??
  I was going to make the same joke.
  "Fewer. I mean more. More bike lanes."
- Why does it matter?
  
  Why does grammar matter?
  
  Yes
  
  To you it doesn’t but I’ll leave that for you to resolve on your own.
  
  you're right, it doesn't to me
  
  You’re far too toxic to be worth the effort. Have a block.
  
  You insulted me, how is that me being toxic?

151 comments