LESS CALORIES THEN THE LEADING BRAND what are the two mistakes here
The correct answer and explanation is:
The phrase “LESS CALORIES THEN THE LEADING BRAND” contains two grammatical mistakes:
✅ Corrected Version:
“FEWER CALORIES THAN THE LEADING BRAND”
🔍 Explanation (Approx. 300 Words):
This phrase has two common grammatical errors: misuse of “less” and “then.”
1. “Less” vs. “Fewer”
The word “less” is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., water, money, time), while “fewer” is used with countable nouns (e.g., apples, cars, calories). Since “calories” are countable units, “fewer” is the correct choice.
- ❌ Wrong: Less calories
- ✅ Correct: Fewer calories
This is a common mistake in advertising, where “less” is often used incorrectly for simplicity or style. However, grammatically, it’s incorrect when referring to countable items.
2. “Then” vs. “Than”
“Then” is an adverb related to time or sequence (e.g., I ate dinner, then I watched TV).
“Than” is a conjunction used in comparisons (e.g., smarter than, cheaper than). Since the phrase is comparing calorie content, “than” is the proper word.
- ❌ Wrong: Then the leading brand
- ✅ Correct: Than the leading brand
✅ Why It Matters:
These errors might seem minor, but they affect clarity and professionalism. For businesses, especially in advertising, grammar mistakes can damage credibility and make a brand seem careless. Using proper grammar (especially in claims like these) ensures the message is both persuasive and correct.
In summary, always use:
- “fewer” with things you can count,
- “than” when comparing.
So, the correct phrase is:
“Fewer calories than the leading brand.”