Why is it correct to say “fewer calories” when calories are continuous?
This question, "Discrete Units of a Continuous Quantity", asks whether units of a continuous quantity should be spoken of as discrete or continuous.
The top answer states
The rule is simple, and you obviously know it: discrete quantities require the use of "fewer" and continuous quantities require the use of "less".
Calorie, as a unit, requires the use of "fewer". Energy, as a continuum, requires the use of "less".
"Fewer calories means less energy."
I do not understand the logic here though. Calorie is a unit, yes, but it is a continuous unit (it is possible to have half a calorie, or 4.582394 calories). Since a calorie is such a small unit of energy compared to what it is usually used for (food energy and human metabolism), it is very seldom expressed in a fractional form and instead is rounded (usually to the nearest 10 or higher).
Why then should "fewer" be used with calorie instead of "less"? Is there another relevant rule than just "continuous quantities use "less" and discrete quantities use "fewer"?
word-choice uncountable-nouns countable-nouns
asked 4 hours ago
JoshuaJoshua
1927
|
show 2 more comments
This question, "Discrete Units of a Continuous Quantity", asks whether units of a continuous quantity should be spoken of as discrete or continuous.
The top answer states
The rule is simple, and you obviously know it: discrete quantities require the use of "fewer" and continuous quantities require the use of "less".
Calorie, as a unit, requires the use of "fewer". Energy, as a continuum, requires the use of "less".
"Fewer calories means less energy."
I do not understand the logic here though. Calorie is a unit, yes, but it is a continuous unit (it is possible to have half a calorie, or 4.582394 calories). Since a calorie is such a small unit of energy compared to what it is usually used for (food energy and human metabolism), it is very seldom expressed in a fractional form and instead is rounded (usually to the nearest 10 or higher).
Why then should "fewer" be used with calorie instead of "less"? Is there another relevant rule than just "continuous quantities use "less" and discrete quantities use "fewer"?
word-choice uncountable-nouns countable-nouns
asked 4 hours ago
JoshuaJoshua
1927
2
This isn't logic, it's grammar. We generally say fewer miles, too. See Ngrams. That's because miles and calories are countable; distance and energy aren't. We say less fruit, as well, even though fruit usually comes in discrete units.
– Peter Shor
4 hours ago
It's 4.582394 fewer miles to my house now than it used to be.
– Let's stop villifying Iran
4 hours ago
1
Nothing is continuous when you get down to quantum levels.
– ab2
4 hours ago
@ab2 while that is true, I still have fewer quanta of energy, which together make up less energy.
– Joseph Rogers
2 hours ago
It is incorrect to say calories. The SI unit is the Joule.
– David
2 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
This question, "Discrete Units of a Continuous Quantity", asks whether units of a continuous quantity should be spoken of as discrete or continuous.
The top answer states
The rule is simple, and you obviously know it: discrete quantities require the use of "fewer" and continuous quantities require the use of "less".
Calorie, as a unit, requires the use of "fewer". Energy, as a continuum, requires the use of "less".
"Fewer calories means less energy."
I do not understand the logic here though. Calorie is a unit, yes, but it is a continuous unit (it is possible to have half a calorie, or 4.582394 calories). Since a calorie is such a small unit of energy compared to what it is usually used for (food energy and human metabolism), it is very seldom expressed in a fractional form and instead is rounded (usually to the nearest 10 or higher).
Why then should "fewer" be used with calorie instead of "less"? Is there another relevant rule than just "continuous quantities use "less" and discrete quantities use "fewer"?
word-choice uncountable-nouns countable-nouns
asked 4 hours ago
JoshuaJoshua
1927
This question, "Discrete Units of a Continuous Quantity", asks whether units of a continuous quantity should be spoken of as discrete or continuous.
The top answer states
The rule is simple, and you obviously know it: discrete quantities require the use of "fewer" and continuous quantities require the use of "less".
Calorie, as a unit, requires the use of "fewer". Energy, as a continuum, requires the use of "less".
"Fewer calories means less energy."
I do not understand the logic here though. Calorie is a unit, yes, but it is a continuous unit (it is possible to have half a calorie, or 4.582394 calories). Since a calorie is such a small unit of energy compared to what it is usually used for (food energy and human metabolism), it is very seldom expressed in a fractional form and instead is rounded (usually to the nearest 10 or higher).
Why then should "fewer" be used with calorie instead of "less"? Is there another relevant rule than just "continuous quantities use "less" and discrete quantities use "fewer"?
word-choice uncountable-nouns countable-nouns
word-choice uncountable-nouns countable-nouns
asked 4 hours ago
JoshuaJoshua
1927
asked 4 hours ago
JoshuaJoshua
1927
asked 4 hours ago
JoshuaJoshua
1927
asked 4 hours ago
JoshuaJoshua
1927
asked 4 hours ago
JoshuaJoshua
1927
1927
2
This isn't logic, it's grammar. We generally say fewer miles, too. See Ngrams. That's because miles and calories are countable; distance and energy aren't. We say less fruit, as well, even though fruit usually comes in discrete units.
– Peter Shor
4 hours ago
It's 4.582394 fewer miles to my house now than it used to be.
– Let's stop villifying Iran
4 hours ago
1
Nothing is continuous when you get down to quantum levels.
– ab2
4 hours ago
@ab2 while that is true, I still have fewer quanta of energy, which together make up less energy.
– Joseph Rogers
2 hours ago
It is incorrect to say calories. The SI unit is the Joule.
– David
2 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
2
This isn't logic, it's grammar. We generally say fewer miles, too. See Ngrams. That's because miles and calories are countable; distance and energy aren't. We say less fruit, as well, even though fruit usually comes in discrete units.
– Peter Shor
4 hours ago
It's 4.582394 fewer miles to my house now than it used to be.
– Let's stop villifying Iran
4 hours ago
1
Nothing is continuous when you get down to quantum levels.
– ab2
4 hours ago
@ab2 while that is true, I still have fewer quanta of energy, which together make up less energy.
– Joseph Rogers
2 hours ago
It is incorrect to say calories. The SI unit is the Joule.
– David
2 hours ago
2
2
This isn't logic, it's grammar. We generally say fewer miles, too. See Ngrams. That's because miles and calories are countable; distance and energy aren't. We say less fruit, as well, even though fruit usually comes in discrete units.
– Peter Shor
4 hours ago
This isn't logic, it's grammar. We generally say fewer miles, too. See Ngrams. That's because miles and calories are countable; distance and energy aren't. We say less fruit, as well, even though fruit usually comes in discrete units.
– Peter Shor
4 hours ago
It's 4.582394 fewer miles to my house now than it used to be.
– Let's stop villifying Iran
4 hours ago
It's 4.582394 fewer miles to my house now than it used to be.
– Let's stop villifying Iran
4 hours ago
1
1
Nothing is continuous when you get down to quantum levels.
– ab2
4 hours ago
Nothing is continuous when you get down to quantum levels.
– ab2
4 hours ago
@ab2 while that is true, I still have fewer quanta of energy, which together make up less energy.
– Joseph Rogers
2 hours ago
@ab2 while that is true, I still have fewer quanta of energy, which together make up less energy.
– Joseph Rogers
2 hours ago
It is incorrect to say calories. The SI unit is the Joule.
– David
2 hours ago
It is incorrect to say calories. The SI unit is the Joule.
– David
2 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
1
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oldest
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Divisibility does not mean something is not countable or that it isn't a discrete unit, requiring use of 'fewer'. A calorie is not 'energy' it is a 'unit of energy', and therefore, countable and discrete, even though it's divisible. It's divisible into further discrete units - half a calorie, in this case, is still a discrete unit.
Using another example, you would have 'fewer' jars of peanut butter, even though someone might have eaten half of the peanut butter in some of the jars. You could even cut the entire jar in half, none of that matters, you still have fewer jars. And you also have less peanut butter, in the same way that fewer calories means less energy. The calorie corresponds to the jar, not to the peanut butter (that would correspond to the energy the calorie measures).
It doesn't matter that there is 'less' peanut butter in some jars than in others any more than it would matter if some of the jars were a gallon in size, and some were just single-use jars with two tablespoons of peanut butter inside. Put another way, your 'half a calorie' is still a unit, and thus, you'd still say 'fewer calories'.
answered 4 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
1663
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Divisibility does not mean something is not countable or that it isn't a discrete unit, requiring use of 'fewer'. A calorie is not 'energy' it is a 'unit of energy', and therefore, countable and discrete, even though it's divisible. It's divisible into further discrete units - half a calorie, in this case, is still a discrete unit.
Using another example, you would have 'fewer' jars of peanut butter, even though someone might have eaten half of the peanut butter in some of the jars. You could even cut the entire jar in half, none of that matters, you still have fewer jars. And you also have less peanut butter, in the same way that fewer calories means less energy. The calorie corresponds to the jar, not to the peanut butter (that would correspond to the energy the calorie measures).
It doesn't matter that there is 'less' peanut butter in some jars than in others any more than it would matter if some of the jars were a gallon in size, and some were just single-use jars with two tablespoons of peanut butter inside. Put another way, your 'half a calorie' is still a unit, and thus, you'd still say 'fewer calories'.
answered 4 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
1663
New contributor
MarkTO is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Divisibility does not mean something is not countable or that it isn't a discrete unit, requiring use of 'fewer'. A calorie is not 'energy' it is a 'unit of energy', and therefore, countable and discrete, even though it's divisible. It's divisible into further discrete units - half a calorie, in this case, is still a discrete unit.
Using another example, you would have 'fewer' jars of peanut butter, even though someone might have eaten half of the peanut butter in some of the jars. You could even cut the entire jar in half, none of that matters, you still have fewer jars. And you also have less peanut butter, in the same way that fewer calories means less energy. The calorie corresponds to the jar, not to the peanut butter (that would correspond to the energy the calorie measures).
It doesn't matter that there is 'less' peanut butter in some jars than in others any more than it would matter if some of the jars were a gallon in size, and some were just single-use jars with two tablespoons of peanut butter inside. Put another way, your 'half a calorie' is still a unit, and thus, you'd still say 'fewer calories'.
answered 4 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
1663
New contributor
MarkTO is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Divisibility does not mean something is not countable or that it isn't a discrete unit, requiring use of 'fewer'. A calorie is not 'energy' it is a 'unit of energy', and therefore, countable and discrete, even though it's divisible. It's divisible into further discrete units - half a calorie, in this case, is still a discrete unit.
Using another example, you would have 'fewer' jars of peanut butter, even though someone might have eaten half of the peanut butter in some of the jars. You could even cut the entire jar in half, none of that matters, you still have fewer jars. And you also have less peanut butter, in the same way that fewer calories means less energy. The calorie corresponds to the jar, not to the peanut butter (that would correspond to the energy the calorie measures).
It doesn't matter that there is 'less' peanut butter in some jars than in others any more than it would matter if some of the jars were a gallon in size, and some were just single-use jars with two tablespoons of peanut butter inside. Put another way, your 'half a calorie' is still a unit, and thus, you'd still say 'fewer calories'.
answered 4 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
1663
New contributor
MarkTO is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Divisibility does not mean something is not countable or that it isn't a discrete unit, requiring use of 'fewer'. A calorie is not 'energy' it is a 'unit of energy', and therefore, countable and discrete, even though it's divisible. It's divisible into further discrete units - half a calorie, in this case, is still a discrete unit.
Using another example, you would have 'fewer' jars of peanut butter, even though someone might have eaten half of the peanut butter in some of the jars. You could even cut the entire jar in half, none of that matters, you still have fewer jars. And you also have less peanut butter, in the same way that fewer calories means less energy. The calorie corresponds to the jar, not to the peanut butter (that would correspond to the energy the calorie measures).
It doesn't matter that there is 'less' peanut butter in some jars than in others any more than it would matter if some of the jars were a gallon in size, and some were just single-use jars with two tablespoons of peanut butter inside. Put another way, your 'half a calorie' is still a unit, and thus, you'd still say 'fewer calories'.
answered 4 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
1663
New contributor
MarkTO is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 4 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
1663
New contributor
MarkTO is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 4 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
1663
answered 4 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
1663
1663
New contributor
MarkTO is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
MarkTO is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
MarkTO is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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2
This isn't logic, it's grammar. We generally say fewer miles, too. See Ngrams. That's because miles and calories are countable; distance and energy aren't. We say less fruit, as well, even though fruit usually comes in discrete units.
– Peter Shor
4 hours ago
It's 4.582394 fewer miles to my house now than it used to be.
– Let's stop villifying Iran
4 hours ago
1
Nothing is continuous when you get down to quantum levels.
– ab2
4 hours ago
@ab2 while that is true, I still have fewer quanta of energy, which together make up less energy.
– Joseph Rogers
2 hours ago
It is incorrect to say calories. The SI unit is the Joule.
– David
2 hours ago