10 items or less?

Fewer vs Less

Sign at the checkout of a supermarket: “Ten items or less”

This is INCORRECT.

You can count the items,

so you need to use the number word “fewer”.

These nouns are countable.

* "Ten items or fewer."

This is CORRECT.

If you can’t count the substance,

then you should use “less”.

These nouns are uncountable.

* "You should eat less meat."

This is CORRECT.