less / fewer

[sunsunmoon]

The summer heat is disappearing and school districts are starting another year with less staffing and programs. California students are returning to public schools with fewer staff per student than any other state. Yet with the challenges facing families today, we need more adults supporting our children, not less.
(From Schools need community cooperation - pasadenasun.com)
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If this paragraph contains any errors, please correct them. Here's my try:

...and programs ---> ...and fewer programs
...fewer staff ---> ...fewer staff members
...not less ---> ...not fewer

 

[5jj]

If this paragraph contains any errors, please correct them. Here's my try:

...and programs ---> ...and fewer programs
...fewer staff ---> ...fewer staff members
...not less ---> ...not fewer

Is this an error? With so many native speakers not understanding the 'less/fewer' difference, I am beginning to think that it is now artificial.

 

[sunsunmoon]

I'm wondering if understanding the difference well is no big deal.

 

[Barb_D]

Staff is fine. It doesn't need to be staff members.

 

[sunsunmoon]

Staff is fine. It doesn't need to be staff members.

(North American English) staff members
(From Definition and pronunciation of staff | Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary)
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This example makes me think that "fewer staff" should have been "fewer staff members."

 

[5jj]

This example makes me think that "fewer staff" should have been "fewer staff members."

I agree with Barb - "Staff is fine. It doesn't need to be staff members."

 

[sunsunmoon]

Could you explain what a staff member is, then?

 

[Offroad]

smooth

 

[5jj]

Could you explain what a staff member is, then?

A staff member/member of staff is, as you know, one of the people working for an organisation. The plural is staff members/'members of staff', but we frequently use just 'staff'

As several of us have told you, sunsunmoon, not everyone's language is impeccable, sometimes usage is not yet established, and many native speakers simply do not care very much about the finer points of language. In your recent posts, you have asked about a number of points that would not bother most native speakers.

 

[sunsunmoon]

I'm aware that not everyone's language is impeccable. Thank you.

Is the "staff" in "fewer staff" a countable noun? Can "staff," not "staffs," be used as a plural noun?