Meme O’ The Week: Amount of People

We need to hold a memorial service for the lost art of proofreading. This ignorant grammar error does not appear in the online or print stories, just in the teaser head sent out to subscribers. Still, proofreading anyone?

It has been noted that not all readers of this column are language mavens. The headline should be "number of people." Amount refers to things you can't count, like water or sand. Number refers to things you can count, like people.  Similarly, in grocery stores, the sign "10 items or less" should be 10 items or fewer, unless you can't count them the items.

Amount


Best DNC Pic

Dnc

Shot by New York Times staff photographer Todd Heisler, the photo features Amara Ajagu, one of the vice president's young grandnieces, staring on as Harris delivered her address to the convention. More so than most little girls, Ajagu can say that Harris could be the first president who looks like her.