A question about "no + a noun"

Presumably it is possible to make more than one error, so use errors.

Hi Anonymous,

Please note, the spelling is solution.

Allot 5 points if the solution contains no errors.

Hi,

"Allot 5 points if the solution contains no error " or

"Allot 5 points if the solution contains no errors "

I'd like to offer the opinion that '...no error...' is acceptable. It's much less common, it sounds rather literary, and it stresses the idea of 'not even one error'.

Best wishes, Clive

PS Consider this example:

Lawyer to jury: Make no mistake! My client is innocent.

Clive

hi, I also have a question about noun ....

I want to get high marks in the coming exam. or

I want to get high mark in the coming exam.

I've done well in the English test. My mark is 98.

I've done well in the English test. My marks is 98.

thank

Nona The BritPresumably it is possible to make more than one error, so use errors.

Hi, that means it has nothing to do with countable or uncountable?

e.g. He is an orphan. He has no father. (even though "father" is countable?)

This is a problem about whether we should use a singular or a plural for countable nouns in the combination with "no". If the noun is uncountable, there couldn't be such a problem. The rule is: choose a singular form for no + a noun when a singular form is common in plain statements and choose a plural form for no + a noun when a plural form is common in plain statements.

Hi,

There was a popular song written in the 1920's called "Yes! We have no bananas". Some of it goes like this ....

There's a fruit store on our street
It's run by a Greek.
And he keeps good things to eat
But you should hear him speak!

When you ask him anything, he never answers "no".
He just "yes"es you to

My marks is 98.

I want to get high marks in the coming exam.

Her mark was an A.

I got a mark of 98 in math.