Scarlet_Buckeye
Posts: 5,264
Sep 21, 2011 4:26pm
I realize this is extremely stupid and highly irrelevant to anything in life, but what is the correct terminology/phrase for using "much less"?
Example:
I hope my house doesn't burn down, much less someone die.
or
I hope no one dies, much less my the house burns down.
What is the correct way of phrasing "much less"? Do you put the more significant of the matter at the end? Or the beginning?
Another example:
I hope I'm able to finish the leg, much less the race.
Or
I hope I'm able to finish the race, much less a leg.
This has always bothered me.
Example:
I hope my house doesn't burn down, much less someone die.
or
I hope no one dies, much less my the house burns down.
What is the correct way of phrasing "much less"? Do you put the more significant of the matter at the end? Or the beginning?
Another example:
I hope I'm able to finish the leg, much less the race.
Or
I hope I'm able to finish the race, much less a leg.
This has always bothered me.
gorocks99
Posts: 10,760
Sep 21, 2011 4:38pm
I normally use it by placing the more significant at the beginning, but haven't really thought about it too much before.
"He couldn't find his wallet, much less his driver's license"
"He couldn't find his wallet, much less his driver's license"
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
Sep 21, 2011 4:42pm
This is how I would use it.gorocks99;905852 wrote:I normally use it by placing the more significant at the beginning, but haven't really thought about it too much before.
"He couldn't find his wallet, much less his driver's license"
"Much less" pointing out the "thing" that is much less important/significant.
Heretic
Posts: 18,820
Sep 21, 2011 4:45pm
You've heard a lot of "much less, Justin" throughout your life, haven't you?justincredible;905856 wrote:This is how I would use it.
"Much less" pointing out the "thing" that is much less important/significant.
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
Sep 21, 2011 5:01pm
More or less.Heretic;905860 wrote:You've heard a lot of "much less, Justin" throughout your life, haven't you?
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enigmaax
Posts: 4,511
Sep 21, 2011 10:37pm
"Much less" means to a lesser extent, so this is your best example. You have less of a chance to finish the race than a leg. Or, you might not even be able to accomplish X, so Y is probably completely out of the question.Scarlet_Buckeye;905839 wrote:I hope I'm able to finish the leg, much less the race.
Some other examples:
I can't afford to buy porn, much less rent a hooker.
Darby doesn't know when a girl wants to bang, much less when to put it in her butt.
Scarlet_Buckeye
Posts: 5,264
Sep 22, 2011 8:33am
gorocks99;905852 wrote:I normally use it by placing the more significant at the beginning, but haven't really thought about it too much before.
"He couldn't find his wallet, much less his driver's license"
enigmaax;906220 wrote:"Much less" means to a lesser extent, so this is your best example. You have less of a chance to finish the race than a leg. Or, you might not even be able to accomplish X, so Y is probably completely out of the question.
Some other examples:
I can't afford to buy porn, much less rent a hooker.
Darby doesn't know when a girl wants to bang, much less when to put it in her butt.
So we have contradictory view points....
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Sep 22, 2011 8:40am
When I am able to rep again, this will receive reps.enigmaax;906220 wrote:Some other examples:
I can't afford to buy porn, much less rent a hooker.
Darby doesn't know when a girl wants to bang, much less when to put it in her butt.
Rotinaj
Posts: 7,699
Sep 22, 2011 8:41am
Im sure CC will come in and sort this all out soon enough. Word on the street is that hes a grammatical wizard.
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enigmaax
Posts: 4,511
Sep 22, 2011 8:42am
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/much+lessScarlet_Buckeye;906434 wrote:So we have contradictory view points....
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Sep 22, 2011 8:43am
It's "grammarical." DUH!Rotinaj;906442 wrote:Word on the street is that hes a grammatical wizard.
Scarlet_Buckeye
Posts: 5,264
Sep 22, 2011 9:23am
Reps.enigmaax;906443 wrote:http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/much+less
thePITman
Posts: 3,867
Sep 22, 2011 2:13pm
The way you are describing "much less" sounds like what I mean when I say "let alone"... "I couldn't score a single point, let alone get a WIN."
Score a point = easier thing to do that I couldn't do
Get a win = must do the first (score a point) in order to do the 2nd (win)
Score a point = easier thing to do that I couldn't do
Get a win = must do the first (score a point) in order to do the 2nd (win)
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enigmaax
Posts: 4,511
Sep 22, 2011 2:26pm
Yes, they are synonyms. "Not to mention" is another.thePITman;906888 wrote:The way you are describing "much less" sounds like what I mean when I say "let alone"... "I couldn't score a single point, let alone get a WIN."
Score a point = easier thing to do that I couldn't do
Get a win = must do the first (score a point) in order to do the 2nd (win)
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vball10set
Posts: 24,795
Sep 22, 2011 3:07pm
I can't believe someone started a thread about this, much less people responding to it
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bigkahuna
Posts: 4,454
Sep 22, 2011 9:02pm
I repped it for you, so you should rep me.ernest_t_bass;906441 wrote:When I am able to rep again, this will receive reps.
Scarlet_Buckeye
Posts: 5,264
Sep 23, 2011 10:54am
RepsthePITman;906888 wrote:The way you are describing "much less" sounds like what I mean when I say "let alone"... "I couldn't score a single point, let alone get a WIN."
Score a point = easier thing to do that I couldn't do
Get a win = must do the first (score a point) in order to do the 2nd (win)
Scarlet_Buckeye
Posts: 5,264
Sep 23, 2011 10:54am
Repsvball10set;906952 wrote:I can't believe someone started a thread about this, much less people responding to it
coyotes22
Posts: 11,298
Sep 24, 2011 9:19pm
I lol'dvball10set;906952 wrote:I can't believe someone started a thread about this, much less people responding to it
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cbus4life
Posts: 2,849
Sep 24, 2011 11:52pm
Very impressed that this turned into an actual serious discussion, well done.