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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

lower or a lower

Hi,

Please tell me why one has an article in front and the other has no article. I think the word 'index' plays a role in the choice.

They have a significantly lower body mass index (BMI). Lower BMI (Why not 'a lower BMI'?) indicates less body fat.
  

Top answer

Either with or without the article is OK in the second sentence, since 'mass' can be uncountable. You are right that 'index', a countable noun, demands the article in your first sentence.

— Mister Micawber

  • Either with or without the article is OK in the second sentence, since 'mass' can be uncountable.
  • You are right that 'index', a countable noun, demands the article in your first sentence.
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3 Answers
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Either with or without the article is OK in the second sentence, since 'mass' can be uncountable. You are right that 'index', a countable noun, demands the article in your first sentence.
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Thank you, Mr.M.

You said:

Either with or without the article is OK in the second sentence, since 'mass' can be uncountable.

I don't understand the logic of your saying, "Either with or without the article is OK in the second sentence, since 'mass' can be uncountable." I thought what counts is the last noun word, not necessarily the one that precedes it. What it being a
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You're right; I either wasn't paying attention or need new reading glasses. I think the article is needed in both cases, though perhaps the writer was noting only the acronym (BMI)-- and that's probably what I did as well, come to think of it. Often, such acronyms will be dealt with as a proper noun... which they are, I suppose. There is an anomaly between the generic-sounding 'lower body ma
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