Does the article change the meaning of the expression “Student with [a?] physics background”?
I have heard natives say both
student with physics background
and
student with a physics background
so I assume both expressions are grammatical.
Is there any difference in meaning?
meaning indefinite-article
asked 12 hours ago
LeoLeo
1062
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add a comment |
I have heard natives say both
student with physics background
and
student with a physics background
so I assume both expressions are grammatical.
Is there any difference in meaning?
meaning indefinite-article
asked 12 hours ago
LeoLeo
1062
New contributor
Leo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
I don't like the article-less version very much. I suggest you avoid it. To me, the only "meaning" it conveys is that the speaker/writer is sloppy and/or not well-educated (or simply "not a native speaker").
– FumbleFingers
11 hours ago
3
I agree that the article should always be used. I believe it's ungrammatical to leave it out (aside from in headlinese)—but I'm having difficulty forming a cogent argument.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
2
Are you sure you haven’t heard /seen “students with physics backgrounds”? The article gets omitted when the phrase is in the plural.
– J.R.♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
I have heard natives say both
student with physics background
and
student with a physics background
so I assume both expressions are grammatical.
Is there any difference in meaning?
meaning indefinite-article
asked 12 hours ago
LeoLeo
1062
New contributor
Leo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I have heard natives say both
student with physics background
and
student with a physics background
so I assume both expressions are grammatical.
Is there any difference in meaning?
meaning indefinite-article
meaning indefinite-article
asked 12 hours ago
LeoLeo
1062
New contributor
Leo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
LeoLeo
1062
New contributor
Leo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
LeoLeo
1062
New contributor
Leo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
LeoLeo
1062
asked 12 hours ago
LeoLeo
1062
1062
New contributor
Leo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Leo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Leo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
I don't like the article-less version very much. I suggest you avoid it. To me, the only "meaning" it conveys is that the speaker/writer is sloppy and/or not well-educated (or simply "not a native speaker").
– FumbleFingers
11 hours ago
3
I agree that the article should always be used. I believe it's ungrammatical to leave it out (aside from in headlinese)—but I'm having difficulty forming a cogent argument.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
2
Are you sure you haven’t heard /seen “students with physics backgrounds”? The article gets omitted when the phrase is in the plural.
– J.R.♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
4
I don't like the article-less version very much. I suggest you avoid it. To me, the only "meaning" it conveys is that the speaker/writer is sloppy and/or not well-educated (or simply "not a native speaker").
– FumbleFingers
11 hours ago
3
I agree that the article should always be used. I believe it's ungrammatical to leave it out (aside from in headlinese)—but I'm having difficulty forming a cogent argument.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
2
Are you sure you haven’t heard /seen “students with physics backgrounds”? The article gets omitted when the phrase is in the plural.
– J.R.♦
8 hours ago
4
4
I don't like the article-less version very much. I suggest you avoid it. To me, the only "meaning" it conveys is that the speaker/writer is sloppy and/or not well-educated (or simply "not a native speaker").
– FumbleFingers
11 hours ago
I don't like the article-less version very much. I suggest you avoid it. To me, the only "meaning" it conveys is that the speaker/writer is sloppy and/or not well-educated (or simply "not a native speaker").
– FumbleFingers
11 hours ago
3
3
I agree that the article should always be used. I believe it's ungrammatical to leave it out (aside from in headlinese)—but I'm having difficulty forming a cogent argument.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
I agree that the article should always be used. I believe it's ungrammatical to leave it out (aside from in headlinese)—but I'm having difficulty forming a cogent argument.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
2
2
Are you sure you haven’t heard /seen “students with physics backgrounds”? The article gets omitted when the phrase is in the plural.
– J.R.♦
8 hours ago
Are you sure you haven’t heard /seen “students with physics backgrounds”? The article gets omitted when the phrase is in the plural.
– J.R.♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
'Background' is a singular countable noun, so would usually need a word like 'a', 'the', 'my' or 'your'. So standard English definitely needs 'a student with a physics background'.
But there are some special contexts where articles and similar can be omitted, for example newspaper headlines and headings in articles etc (which are written sources). Imagine a university faculty committee decides to create a new part-time job for a laboratory assistant. They say 'We need a student with a physics background'. Then they write the advertisement, which starts 'New job available - laboratory assistant. Suit student with physics background'. You see the ad and you think 'I am a student with a physics background. I'll apply.'
Where have you heard native speakers saying 'student with physics background'?
answered 9 hours ago
SydneySydney
4,5972714
How after reading your answer, it probably was not "I've heard" but rather "I've read". So what if we use it in writing as a subtitle for a resume: "John Doe, Engineer with [a?] physics background". Do we need the article there?
– Leo
9 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
'Background' is a singular countable noun, so would usually need a word like 'a', 'the', 'my' or 'your'. So standard English definitely needs 'a student with a physics background'.
But there are some special contexts where articles and similar can be omitted, for example newspaper headlines and headings in articles etc (which are written sources). Imagine a university faculty committee decides to create a new part-time job for a laboratory assistant. They say 'We need a student with a physics background'. Then they write the advertisement, which starts 'New job available - laboratory assistant. Suit student with physics background'. You see the ad and you think 'I am a student with a physics background. I'll apply.'
Where have you heard native speakers saying 'student with physics background'?
answered 9 hours ago
SydneySydney
4,5972714
How after reading your answer, it probably was not "I've heard" but rather "I've read". So what if we use it in writing as a subtitle for a resume: "John Doe, Engineer with [a?] physics background". Do we need the article there?
– Leo
9 hours ago
add a comment |
'Background' is a singular countable noun, so would usually need a word like 'a', 'the', 'my' or 'your'. So standard English definitely needs 'a student with a physics background'.
But there are some special contexts where articles and similar can be omitted, for example newspaper headlines and headings in articles etc (which are written sources). Imagine a university faculty committee decides to create a new part-time job for a laboratory assistant. They say 'We need a student with a physics background'. Then they write the advertisement, which starts 'New job available - laboratory assistant. Suit student with physics background'. You see the ad and you think 'I am a student with a physics background. I'll apply.'
Where have you heard native speakers saying 'student with physics background'?
answered 9 hours ago
SydneySydney
4,5972714
How after reading your answer, it probably was not "I've heard" but rather "I've read". So what if we use it in writing as a subtitle for a resume: "John Doe, Engineer with [a?] physics background". Do we need the article there?
– Leo
9 hours ago
add a comment |
'Background' is a singular countable noun, so would usually need a word like 'a', 'the', 'my' or 'your'. So standard English definitely needs 'a student with a physics background'.
But there are some special contexts where articles and similar can be omitted, for example newspaper headlines and headings in articles etc (which are written sources). Imagine a university faculty committee decides to create a new part-time job for a laboratory assistant. They say 'We need a student with a physics background'. Then they write the advertisement, which starts 'New job available - laboratory assistant. Suit student with physics background'. You see the ad and you think 'I am a student with a physics background. I'll apply.'
Where have you heard native speakers saying 'student with physics background'?
answered 9 hours ago
SydneySydney
4,5972714
'Background' is a singular countable noun, so would usually need a word like 'a', 'the', 'my' or 'your'. So standard English definitely needs 'a student with a physics background'.
But there are some special contexts where articles and similar can be omitted, for example newspaper headlines and headings in articles etc (which are written sources). Imagine a university faculty committee decides to create a new part-time job for a laboratory assistant. They say 'We need a student with a physics background'. Then they write the advertisement, which starts 'New job available - laboratory assistant. Suit student with physics background'. You see the ad and you think 'I am a student with a physics background. I'll apply.'
Where have you heard native speakers saying 'student with physics background'?
answered 9 hours ago
SydneySydney
4,5972714
answered 9 hours ago
SydneySydney
4,5972714
answered 9 hours ago
SydneySydney
4,5972714
answered 9 hours ago
SydneySydney
4,5972714
4,5972714
How after reading your answer, it probably was not "I've heard" but rather "I've read". So what if we use it in writing as a subtitle for a resume: "John Doe, Engineer with [a?] physics background". Do we need the article there?
– Leo
9 hours ago
add a comment |
How after reading your answer, it probably was not "I've heard" but rather "I've read". So what if we use it in writing as a subtitle for a resume: "John Doe, Engineer with [a?] physics background". Do we need the article there?
– Leo
9 hours ago
How after reading your answer, it probably was not "I've heard" but rather "I've read". So what if we use it in writing as a subtitle for a resume: "John Doe, Engineer with [a?] physics background". Do we need the article there?
– Leo
9 hours ago
How after reading your answer, it probably was not "I've heard" but rather "I've read". So what if we use it in writing as a subtitle for a resume: "John Doe, Engineer with [a?] physics background". Do we need the article there?
– Leo
9 hours ago
add a comment |
Leo is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Leo is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Leo is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Leo is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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4
I don't like the article-less version very much. I suggest you avoid it. To me, the only "meaning" it conveys is that the speaker/writer is sloppy and/or not well-educated (or simply "not a native speaker").
– FumbleFingers
11 hours ago
3
I agree that the article should always be used. I believe it's ungrammatical to leave it out (aside from in headlinese)—but I'm having difficulty forming a cogent argument.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
2
Are you sure you haven’t heard /seen “students with physics backgrounds”? The article gets omitted when the phrase is in the plural.
– J.R.♦
8 hours ago