Correct Word Usage - Help Me Out, English Majors!

Actually neither is correct. You don't use "reason is because." Also, "less" refers to items that aren't counted as individual units. You use "fewer" to refer to items that an be counted.

The number one reason to sell now is that there are fewer homes for sale than usual, so there is less competition for you.

Where will you be using this sentence? In a pamphlet? On a poster? I'm thinking you can avoid the question of "mean" or "means" by rephrasing.

Why sell now?
Few homes for sale = less competition.

For what it's worth, I agree about the use of fewer, not less. I think the mean/means question is that there really isn't a right answer. You can use mean based of the subject "homes," but you can also view the subject as the singular situation and use "means." They really are both correct, so either way you'll have customers telling you you're wrong.

First of all, take out "because". "The reason is" is followed by "that" and not followed by "because". If you wanted to give a reason, you could say, "That is because…" but you cannot use both. And don't fall into the Double "Is" trap - you'll hear people say "The reason is, is that there are…."

Secondly (and this is important) it's not "less homes" - it is "fewer homes"! "Less" would go before a singular noun or another part of speech, but "fewer" goes before a plural one. So light beer might be "less filling" but it has "fewer calories" (not "less calories").

So you want to say, "The number one reason to sell now is that fewer homes for sales mean less competition for you." You could also say "The primary reason" or "The most compelling reason" if you want to get away from the "number one" phrase.

Finally, the choice between "mean" or "means" is based on the noun it applies to - and that noun is "homes", therefore you use "mean". If you added in another noun, that could change. For example, if you said, "The lack of sufficient homes means…." because "means" goes with "lack" and "of sufficient homes" modifies the singular word "lack."

That entire sentence would be red-penned by an editor. In addition to the word errors, it has awful structuring and uses informal rather than professional wording. Scrap it and start over.

You didn't mention where the sentence would be used. If this is supposed to be a catchy bit on a flier, Tracy Y's suggestion would be a good fit.

If you feel like you need to keep the sentence whole, remember to use the proper fewer/less and mean/means as described by others. Instead of 'number one reason' use a singular descriptive word such as 'primary' or another relevant simile. Do not use the word 'because'.

This means that. These mean that.
So it depends on what you MEAN by the first phrase :) The way I read it, it sounds like you're saying this SITUATION (not having many homes for sale) means less competition for you. In that case you'd use means... but you'd probably want to rewrite it... if you mean the houses themselves use mean.

Side note... homes for sale are things you can count... so FEWER is appropriate. Less refers to things you measure... less water to wash fewer apples... but honestly, that seems to be going the way of the dodo bird, I see people using "less" for everything all over the place.

The number one reason to sell now is because fewer homes for sale mean less competition for you.

It should be fewer because "homes" are individual units and less competition because that is a quality, not something that is quantifiable in units. The verb should be "mean," not "mean, because the subject of this verb is "fewer homes" which is plural, therefore the verb needs to be "mean." It means, they mean. You can her the difference with the wrong constructions: It mean, they means.

I think the sentence itself is too clunky.

Create two sentences: Why sell now? Fewer homes on the market means
less competition for you.

Best,
T. Y

Thea is correct. The noun here is the phrase "fewer homes for sale" (that entire situation, which is singular) so the the verb is "means."

well, for starters it would be 'fewer' homes.
plural noun so plural verb. 'fewer homes mean less competition.'
khairete
S.

the whole sentence is wrong in my opinion and I wouldn't list or purchase my home from someone who can't put a sentence together.

The number one reason to sell your home now? Fewer homes on the market means it's a sellers market, fewer homes usually means more demand.

"Fewer homes for sale", first of all. And therefore, "mean". "...fewer homes for sale mean less competition for you."

Pardon me if someone has already pointed it out (I haven't read your responses yet), but the first thing I noticed is that you should probably be using the word fewer, rather than less to designate the number of homes.

"The number one reason to sell now is because fewer homes for sale mean less competition for you." And fewer is used as an adjective. So your subject verb agreement would be based on the plural homes.

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ETA: The way "reason" is used in the sentence makes it a noun not a verb.

I agree that you could use it either way, because you can be referring either to the situation, which is singular, or the homes, which is plural. But I prefer "means", because you are really talking about a situation, and it just sounds better.

I too would use 'fewer homes', not 'less homes'.

I read the other replies before answering, since I am not a total grammar expert, though I do have a decent grasp.

I agree with everyone - fewer homes, not less homes.

I actually think "means" is correct. You are talking about the idea "fewer homes for sale" and "means" is correct with the singular idea. You're not actually talking about the homes themselves.

in this case, MEANS is used as a consequence of "FEWER homes for sale.... " Therefore, I believe meanS is correct..

Fewer homes for sale means less competition for you.

The entire construct is too clunky. Perhaps two sentences would work better.

The best time to sell your home is now. Fewer homes for sale means less competition for you.

It is the plural trap. I have always sucked at grammar. Still to go to grad school I had to pass a test, grrrr. The finest bit of advice I ever got was get rid of all those words. Perfect, I hate words, right? :) Leave yourself with the noun and the verb and it usually becomes clear. Homes mean.

People are using the noun in the prepositional phrase as the main noun ( homeS) requiring the verb to be "meaN" BUTthe noun you should be looking at is "reason" which requires a singular verb: "meanS."

The second phrase you listed is correct.
If you break it down to simplify, it reads like this:
The number O. reason means less competition.