Should “fewer” or “less” be used when mass and countable nouns are combined in “and” clause?

Question

Obviously, it is correct to say

More apples and flour was purchased.

But how do I express the opposite statement?

Less apples and flour was purchased.

or

Fewer apples and flour were purchased.

or, perhaps, it's incorrect to mix them and it is only correct to say:

Fewer apples and less flour was purchased.

?

Shouldn't the verb be plural? As in ..... apples and flour were purchased. — Mari-Lou A, Jan 27 '17 at 07:25
The following "I bought less apples and flour than I needed" Is acceptable in an informal context. — Mari-Lou A, Jan 27 '17 at 07:27
Few people would say 'That's one fewer problem.' The less / fewer situation isn't as black-and-white as some would claim it to be. — Edwin Ashworth, Jan 27 '17 at 11:01
Possible duplicate of Should "less" or "fewer" be used in these examples?. Actually, it seems that there are multiple dups. — Drew, Jan 27 '17 at 17:05
@Drew This isn't a duplicate, because it focuses on the question whether the word “ply” is countable or not. No “and” there. I am still unclear if in such mixed case both “less” and “fewer” would apply, only one would apply, or neither. — Grammar Addict, Jan 27 '17 at 20:26
I think the only proper solution is the last one. Anything else sounds wrong to me. — Barmar, Jan 27 '17 at 23:36

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 31 '17 at 18:18

2

'Fewer apples and less flour' is the way I would use and prefer to read or hear this.

answered Jan 31 '17 at 18:18

Izabella

Trust Izabella. Apples and flour can be combined only as, for instance, 'stuff' or 'food' or 'comestibles'.
If you're talking about the combination, then 'less tuff' or 'less food' or 'fewer comestibles.

If you're talking about the individual items then 'fewer apples and less flour'
– Robbie Goodwin Feb 09 '17 at 00:55

1 Answers1