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How2die Posted 20 years ago
Thanks a lot,
Al.
Grammar
countable noun 'superiority'?
I am really confused here. I cant imagine that 'superiority' can be countable in this given context. Can anyone explain this usage. I am intuitively inclined to drop an article in this example altogether. Will it be a mistake?
The ranking by wealth of which Spencer so approved is but one example of a wider tendency for people to try to out-do each other. And that competition, whether athletic, artistic or financial, does seem to be about genetic display. Unfakeable demonstrations of a superiority that has at least some underlying genetic component are almost unfailingly attractive to the opposite sex.
Thanks a lot,
Al.
Top answer
I would leave it in otherwise you are changing the meaning. At the moment, it means that the person has one good talent, one demonstrable advantage or superiority over others, for example being a good athlete, or a good artist, or a financial advantage. If you take out 'a': 'unfakeable demonstrations of superiority' means that ther person is generally superior.
- I would leave it in otherwise you are changing the meaning.
- At the moment, it means that the person has one good talent, one demonstrable advantage or superiority over others, for example being a good athlete, or a good artist, or a financial advantage.
- If you take out 'a': 'unfakeable demonstrations of superiority' means that ther person is generally superior.
- In fact, the idea of 'demonstrations of superiority' makes me think of an unsufferably arrogant snooty person - far from being unfailingly attractive!
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3 Answers
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I would leave it in otherwise you are changing the meaning.
At the moment, it means that the person has one good talent, one demonstrable advantage or superiority over others, for example being a good athlete, or a good artist, or a financial advantage.
If you take out 'a': 'unfakeable demonstrations of superiority' means that ther person is generally superior. In fact, the idea
At the moment, it means that the person has one good talent, one demonstrable advantage or superiority over others, for example being a good athlete, or a good artist, or a financial advantage.
If you take out 'a': 'unfakeable demonstrations of superiority' means that ther person is generally superior. In fact, the idea
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But can you say 'he has three superiorities'? Sounds wrong... I cant recall I saw the word used in the plural form.
00
Again OED.
superiority
4.
a. The quality or condition of being higher, greater, or better in some respect, or of having some attribute in a higher degree, than something else. Const. to, over, above.
(1694 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) III. 335) Captain Keggins said to have differed with the Dutch about superiority of command. (1707 Addison Pres. St. War Wks. 1766 III. 257) Our
superiority
4.
a. The quality or condition of being higher, greater, or better in some respect, or of having some attribute in a higher degree, than something else. Const. to, over, above.
(1694 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) III. 335) Captain Keggins said to have differed with the Dutch about superiority of command. (1707 Addison Pres. St. War Wks. 1766 III. 257) Our
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