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LeoMaheo Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
"too high a" or just "too high"
Dear Someone,
As far as I know, "too high a concentration" is correct English, but "too high concentration" does not seem to be correct - well at least it gives below 1000 hits on Google, in comparison to 22 000 for the first alternative.
But, "too high viscosity" gives 242 Google hits, whereas "Too high a viscosity" yields 384 Google hits. This makes me think both are acceptable.
Is "too high viscosity" correct, but "too high concentration" incorrect / sounds bad? Why?
( If both are correct, I'm very surprised by [the vast drop in the number of hits when "a" is dropped from "too high a concentration"], which is not present when "a" is dropped from "too high a viscosity" )
Kind regards, Magnus
As far as I know, "too high a concentration" is correct English, but "too high concentration" does not seem to be correct - well at least it gives below 1000 hits on Google, in comparison to 22 000 for the first alternative.
But, "too high viscosity" gives 242 Google hits, whereas "Too high a viscosity" yields 384 Google hits. This makes me think both are acceptable.
Is "too high viscosity" correct, but "too high concentration" incorrect / sounds bad? Why?
( If both are correct, I'm very surprised by [the vast drop in the number of hits when "a" is dropped from "too high a concentration"], which is not present when "a" is dropped from "too high a viscosity" )
Kind regards, Magnus
Top answer
Hi, Welcome to the Forum. 'too high a . .
- Hi, Welcome to the Forum.
- 'too high a .
- .
- ' is the correct form in both of your examples.
- If I were you, I wouldn't be surprised at anything you find via Google.
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4 Answers
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Hi,
Welcome to the Forum.
'too high a . . . . ' is the correct form in both of your examples.
If I were you, I wouldn't be surprised at anything you find via Google. The internet is like the Wild West.
Another common error is, eg, 'too high of a concentration'.
Best wishes, Clive
Welcome to the Forum.
'too high a . . . . ' is the correct form in both of your examples.
If I were you, I wouldn't be surprised at anything you find via Google. The internet is like the Wild West.
Another common error is, eg, 'too high of a concentration'.
Best wishes, Clive
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CliveAmen! Google is a source for a good feel of what is being written, but not necessarily how it should be written.
If I were you, I wouldn't be surprised at anything you find via Google. The internet is like the Wild West.
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I actually use Google quite much (4 times for this post (not including the original post) :-)), but of course you're right that I shouldn't trust Google too much. I try to forget what Google "told" me unless one alternative dominates over other alternatives with a factor of 50 or 100 or 1000 or something - which however quite often is the case, I think :-)
By the way, perhaps Google in
By the way, perhaps Google in
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"Concentration" is a countable noun, whereas "viscosity" is uncountable. You can have a concentration, but you cannot have a viscosity. Hence, we usually say "too high a concentration", but it´s less common to say "too high a viscosity".
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