What does this sentence mean?
Each mediocre book means one less great book that we would otherwise have a chance to read.
I don’t quite see the use of “would otherwise” in this sentence, which may cause me to misunderstand it.
Are you sure that’s copied correctly? I would have expected:
… would otherwise have had a chance to read.
It can mean one of two things from what I can tell (again, no context).
- If someone writes a mediocre book, then in the time they take to do so, they miss out on a chance to write a great book.
- If someone takes the time to read a mediocre book, then in the time they take to do so, they miss out on the chance to read a great book.
Hi Beees,
That is the correct version, unfortunately. And thank you for the clarification on the matter.
So, “otherwise” here likely means “instead, in the opposite way”?
Oh, and is “less” here of proper use in written English?
Now that’s a can of worms.
one less book.
four fewer books.
Hi Beees,
Do you mean that “less” can only be used with singular nouns? I believe I’ve seen “less” to be used with plural nouns. The problem is that it can be ambiguous. For example, “one less great book” can mean that it is just not as great as the mediocre books 
I’d have to see the example of ‘less’ bring used with a plural (countable) noun before I could comment on how correct (or otherwise) it is considered to be.
Let us put aside the “less” before countable nouns. What do you think about the ambiguity in the use of “less” here in the example given in my original post?
I don’t think there is any ambiguity in the original post.
Beeesneees,
‘The excess food may be given to our neighbours, which would otherwise be wasted.’
Is this sentence OK?
If not, please correct.
Thanks.
No, the order is incorrect.
The excess food which would otherwise be wasted can be given to our neighbours.
Hi,
Do you mean to say that “one less beautiful girl” is the same as “one fewer beautiful girl”? And that “less expensive” bears no relationship with “at a lower price”?
No, that’s not what I mean,.
I mean ‘one less beautiful girl’ would be correct, and not be ambiguous.
‘one fewer beautiful girl’ is incorrect.
‘fewer beautiful girls’ would be correct, but not contain a quantity so the meaning would not be the same.
I don’t understand why you feel my comment might bear any relationship to ‘less expensive’ and ‘at a lower price’.
.
Hi Beees,
I believed yours does just bcuz you said “one less great book” can only mean “one that is missed” (“less” modifies “book”), which means by no means can “less” modify “great”.
Therefore, “one less expensive car” or as such doesn’t mean “one cheaper car” but “one such car that is excluded”.
BTW, if “one fewer beautiful girl” is wrong, then, is there any other way to express it using “fewer”? Does “one beautiful girl fewer” work?
Hi,
Anyone to shed some more light?
Oi…
Hi Beees,
I believed yours does just bcuz you said “one less great book” can only mean “one that is missed” (“less” modifies “book”), which means by no means can “less” modify “great”.
Therefore, “one less expensive car” or as such doesn’t mean “one cheaper car” but “one such car that is excluded”.
BTW, if “one fewer beautiful girl” is wrong, then, is there any other way to express it using “fewer”? Does “one beautiful girl fewer” work?
Hi Beees,
Don’t you think “one less expensive car” and “one cheaper car” (one at a lower price than the former) means the same? Or should the former mean “one expensive car excluded/fewer”?
Does “one beautiful girl fewer” work? NO, Saberlily. It doesn’t make any sense. However, in a highly hypothetical situation you can justify it as below.
This class has 10 beautiful girls. That class has 11 beautiful girls.
You may now say ‘this class has one beautiful girl fewer than that class’. (Here, in fact, ‘less’ also is found used)
Let me take the other sentence “one fewer beautiful girl”. Here ‘fewer’ cannot function like ‘less’. The word you use should qualify/modify the adjective (beautiful) that follows.
Hi,
What do you think about “one less expensive car”?