If Versus Whether
Although in informal writing and speech the two words are often used interchangeably, in formal writing, such as in technical writing at work, it's a good idea to make a distinction between them because the meaning can sometimes be different depending on which word you use. The formal rule is to use if when you have a conditional sentence and whether when you are showing that two alternatives are possible. Some examples will make this more clear.
Here's an example where the two words could be interchangeable:
Squiggly didn't know whether Aardvark would arrive on Friday.
In either sentence, the meaning is that Aardvark may or may not arrive on Friday.
Now, here are some examples where the words are not interchangeable:Squiggly didn't know whether Aardvark would arrive on Friday or Saturday.
Because I used whether, you know that there are two possibilities: Aardvark will arrive on Friday or Aardvark will arrive on Saturday.
Now see how the sentence has a different meaning when I use if instead of whether:Squiggly didn't know if Aardvark would arrive on Friday or Saturday.
Now in addition to arriving on Friday or Saturday, it's possible that Aardvark may not arrive at all. These last two sentences show why it is better to use whether when you have two possibilities, and that is why I recommend using whether instead of if when you have two possibilities, even when the meaning wouldn't change if you use if. It's safer and more consistent.
Here's a final pair of examples:Call Squiggly if you are going to arrive on Friday.
Call Squiggly whether or not you are going to arrive on Friday.
The first sentence is conditional. Call Squiggly if you are going to arrive on Friday means Aardvark only needs to call if he is coming.
The second sentence is not conditional. Call Squiggly whether or not you are going to arrive on Friday means Aardvark needs to call either way.
To sum up, use whether when you have two discrete choices or mean "regardless of whether," and use if for conditional sentences.Sometimes if and whether are interchangeable, but sometimes using one or the other will change the meaning of your sentence. Here are some examples and an explanation.
Whether Versus Whether or Not
That last example is also a good lead in to our second topic: When do you need an or not after whether? Why did I say, "Call Squiggly whether or not you are going to arrive on Friday?"
Often, the or not is just extra fluff and should be left off. In my first example, where I said, "Squiggly didn't know whether Aardvark would arrive on Friday," adding an or not wouldn't change the meaning or emphasis. Squiggly didn't know whether or not Aardvark would arrive on Friday means the same thing as Squiggly didn't know whether Aardvark would arrive on Friday.
On the other hand, you need the full phrase whether or not when you mean "regardless of whether." It shows that there is equal emphasis on both options.Call Squiggly regardless of whether you are going to arrive on Friday.
Call Squiggly whether or not you are going to arrive on Friday.
Finally, a listener wrote to say that her boss was driving her crazy by saying "rather or not" instead of "whether or not." So I'll add that rather or not is incorrect; whether is a conjunction and rather is an adverb, and they are not interchangeable. Whether or not is the correct way to show that there are two possibilities or you mean "regardless of whether."
Gonna, Wanna, Gotta
wanna / gonna
Wanna and gonna are frequently used in speech in informal colloquial English, particularly American English, instead of want to and going to. You will also see them used in writing in quotes of direct speech to show the conversational pronunciation of want to and going to.
Gonna to express the going to form of the future is used with first second and third person singular and plural. Note that in the interrogative, are is omitted in second person singular and first and second person plural
- What we gonna do now? (= What are we going to do now?)
- Don't know about you two. I'm gonna put my feet up and take a break.
- We're gonna carry on and try and get there before dark.
- What's he gonna wear on his wedding day?
~ I dunno. But he's gonna look real smart.Wanna can be used with all persons singular and plural, except third person singular. This is because wanna scans with I want to, you want to, we want to, they want to, but not with he/she wants to where the final s is too intrusive:
- What you wanna do now? (Instead of: What do you want to do now?)
- I wanna go home. My mum and dad are waiting for me and they wanna go out.
- You'll never give up gambling. I'm sure of that. ~ You wanna bet?
(which means: Do you want to place a bet on that?)a wannabee
This term derives originally from the US, but is now used extensively in British English. A wannabee (literally a want-to-be) is someone who is trying to copy somebody else. Usually the person they are trying to copy is somebody famous.
- Scores of Britney Spears wannabees raided the shops where she had bought her latest outfit.
gotta
Gotta is used in a similar way to gonna and wanna, in this case to show the conversational pronunciation of have got to, or as informal alternatives to have to or must. It is not so much used in the interrogative:
- Don't go out there tonight. It's really dangerous.
- ~ A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do
- I gotta / I've gotta phone home right now. My mum'll be worried.
- You gotta / You've gotta get changed right away. The match starts in five minutes.
dunno
Dunno, meaning I don't know is characteristic of very informal speech in British English. Note that the word stress in this expression is on the second syllable, whereas with gonna, gotta and wanna it is on the first syllable.
- Are you going to college when you leave school? ~ Dunno!
- Will you quit your job if they re-locate to Manchester?
~ I dunno.
Difference Between Fewer and Less
People often don’t know when to use less and when to use fewer in a sentence. Here’s how to get it right.
Use fewer if you’re referring to people or things in the plural (e.g. houses, newspapers, dogs, students, children). For example:
People these days are buying fewer newspapers.
Fewer students are opting to study science-related subjects.
Fewer than thirty children each year develop the disease.
Use less when you’re referring to something that can’t be counted or doesn’t have a plural (e.g. money, air, time, music, rain). For example:
It’s a better job but they pay you less money.
People want to spend less time in traffic jams.
ironically, when I’m on tour, I listen to less music.
Less is also used with numbers when they are on their own and with expressions of measurement or time, e.g.:
His weight fell from 18 stone to less than 12.
Their marriage lasted less than two years.
Heath Square is less than four miles away from Dublin city centre.