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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Interaction

Hi,
I am unclear on the use of the term "interaction."

In terms of "interaction" between people, is this singular, uncountable or countable?

For example,
*He facilitated interactions among his students.
*He facilitated interaction among his students.

Which is correct?

I don't really see "an interaction" except in the interaction between some chemical compounds or other scientific objects.

IS both "interaction" and "interaction" correct in terms of the interaction between people?
If only one is correct, which one, and if both are correct, is there any difference?

Thank you.
  

Top answer

*He facilitated interactions among his students. *He facilitated interaction among his students. -- Both are fine.

— Mister Micawber

  • *He facilitated interactions among his students.
  • *He facilitated interaction among his students.
  • -- Both are fine.
  • The first indicates multiple individual cases, and the second indicates the general process.
  • PS: Chemicals generally have reactions , not interactions.
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4 Answers
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*He facilitated interactions among his students.
*He facilitated interaction among his students.

Which is correct?-- Both are fine. The first indicates multiple individual cases, and the second indicates the general process.

PS: Chemicals generally have reactions, not interactions.
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Hi,
Thank you for your reply.
So do you mean "interactions" refer to specific "interactions" that happen between individual (that can be observed) and "interaction" refers to the general process of interaction?

So is this word similar to "investment"? As in "investment" referring to general process of investing, and "investments" as in specific investments made in certain things
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Right, and that is the case with many countable/uncountable noun pairs.
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