Amount vs number

[Hex]

One of (several) things that makes my eyelid twitch: 'amount' used to refer to things that can be counted ("The amount of people in the room").

But I caught C.S. Lewis using it that way in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, though admittedly it was in Lucy's dialogue.

So is it a strict countable/ uncountable distinction like 'less' and 'fewer' or is there more, since I don't believe he used it in error?

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I wouldn't blink at amount. Are you twitching unaccountably? D )

 

[The Judge]

Oddly, being the pedant I am, it isnt one which worries me. I look upon it as a poor synonym for "mass of people" -- but I'm pretty sure you're right, technically it's incorrect. And it's quite possible he simply made a mistake. After all, even Homer nods.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Also remember how the meaning of a word can change over time. I'm reading The War Of The Worlds, and an amount of characters in this classic novel are "ejaculating" when they are supposed to be talking...

 

[Hex]

Nyick. You are an evil overlord.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

I never claimed otherwise, dear Hex.

 

[Abernovo]

DEO: snicker!

Hex, it does technically have a specific meaning, but I think it's one of those words where the usage has become accepted. I do have an image of you now, though, reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and stopping to point out to your audience: "you know, that is not very good English."

--------
'Curiouser and curiouser!' Cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English).
(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

 

[Boneman]

The amount of people who post on here is surprising.... And your problem is...?

 

[Mr Orange]

a quick search revealed this from that reputable source, the in'ernet:

Usage note
The traditional distinction between amount and number is that amount is used with mass or uncountable nouns ( the amount of paperwork; the amount of energy ) and number with countable nouns ( a number of songs; a number of days ). Although objected to, the use of amount instead of number with countable nouns occurs in both speech and writing, especially when the noun can be considered as a unit or group ( the amount of people present; the amount of weapons ) or when it refers to money ( the amount of dollars paid; the amount of pennies in the till ).

 

[Hex]

Pff. I shall loftily rise above you lot (except Mr Orange because he's being nice). So, people are wrong to use 'amount' for countables, but we let them off because lots of them do it?

The barbarians are at the gates.

 

[HareBrain]

Those gates are strong enough to withstand any amount of barbarians.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Are the barbarians at the gates ejaculating about their position, perchance?

 

[Hex]

Stop it STOP IT STOP IT!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Oh, come on, guys! Relax..... *


* sorry Hex **

** may not be strictly accurate.

 

[Hex]

Your all meme and horrible and eye dont wont two torque about it anymhor.

 

[Mirannan]

Also remember how the meaning of a word can change over time. I'm reading The War Of The Worlds, and an amount of characters in this classic novel are "ejaculating" when they are supposed to be talking...

It happens quite a lot in the Sherlock Holmes stories, too.

 

[Ursa major]

It happens quite a lot in the Sherlock Holmes stories, too.

And out of windows, according to QI.

(I'm not sure whether number or amount would be most relevant in this case.)

 

[TheDustyZebra]

It happens quite a lot in the Sherlock Holmes stories, too.

And just to muddy the waters, Agatha Christie ejaculates, too.

 

[chrispenycate]

As would be expected from the pedant, who is still moving to have the challenge text modified from "seventy-five words or less" to "seventy five words or fewer", I am of the opinion that 'amount' can not be used for a plural noun, whether or not the actual nomber is countable. Thus, there is a large amount of air in the room, but a large number of molecules (a number large enough to be only estimated by statistical approximation). Thus C.S. Lewis committed a sin, but in dialogue it could well be that he considered the Pevensies' grammar relaxed enough that such minor transgressions could occur.

 

[Hex]

I hope you don't mind me saying this, chris, but I think I love you.

(I agree -- "a number of grains of sand", whether or not you're going to count all the grains).

And where's the less/ fewer petition?