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HSS Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Presence of Salmonella
Suppose there is no mention of "presence of salmonella" before this paragraph. (In fact, suppose this is the first paragraph)
Officials from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture issued a product warning Friday after preliminary laboratory testing indicated the presence of salmonella in a container of creamy peanut butter from King Nut, according to published reports.
Would you also say "indicated presence of salmonella," if you would like to emphasize "presence" as opposed to "absence"?
Hiro/ Sendai, Japan
Officials from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture issued a product warning Friday after preliminary laboratory testing indicated the presence of salmonella in a container of creamy peanut butter from King Nut, according to published reports.
Would you also say "indicated presence of salmonella," if you would like to emphasize "presence" as opposed to "absence"?
Hiro/ Sendai, Japan
Top answer
No, the presence / the absence is the normal phrasing. Which presence? Salmonella's presence.
- No, the presence / the absence is the normal phrasing.
- Which presence?
- Salmonella's presence.
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2 Answers
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No, the presence / the absence is the normal phrasing. Which presence? Salmonella's presence.
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No, the presence / the absence is the normal phrasing. Which presence? Salmonella's presence.
.
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HSS Would you also say "indicated presence of salmonella," if you would like to emphasize "presence" as opposed to "absence"?I can't really explain this, but I have the sense (instinct?) that when the presense of X is the normal, expected, and desirable condition, the article may optionally be omitted.
I agree that in the case of salmonella
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