If one loves something “5 times less,” does that mean 20% as much? Or do we know how imperfectly a dog loves a human and estimate a cat would love us 5 times less than that. 5 times MORE, I would get. But I never understand doing anything 5 times less. Anyone?
A fifth as much. Pet peeve of mine too. People are judged by the words they use.
I’m with you on that. Not only are journalists borderline illiterate at times, they are also innumerate. Copy writers are just as bad, if not worse.
There is no such thing as five times less, there is one-fifth as much. Mrs. Olsen of Folgers fame said it correctly, but the ads that express ratios and proportions correctly are few and far between.
I see and hear this kind of poor language all the time now, on the TV, in advertisements, and in conversations of those around me.
I blame public schools and their poor language and arithmetic/mathematic training.