Does the article change the meaning of the expression “Student with [a?] physics background”?












1















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







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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
















1















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







share|improve this question







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














1












1








1








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







share|improve this question







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






share|improve this question







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.











share|improve this question







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.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question






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




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














  • 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










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















4














'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'?






share|improve this answer
























  • 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













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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









4














'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'?






share|improve this answer
























  • 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


















4














'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'?






share|improve this answer
























  • 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
















4












4








4







'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'?






share|improve this answer













'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'?







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










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





















  • 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












Leo is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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