Uncountable Noun "Currency"

Question

Hornby's English dictionary Currency1 Uncountable. the state of being in common, habitual use; the state of being generally accepted.Many slang words have only a short currency (i.e. they are used for a short time and then forgotten).When you learn a foreign language, you should learn the words in common currency first.The rumour soon gained currency (i.e. it was passed from person to person until many people had heard it).I don't understand why it is not "short currency" but "a short currency". If adjectives could make it acceptable, Is "the rumour soon gained a long currency" also possible?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

anonymousI don't understand why it is not "short currency" but "a short currency".

I don't like it, either, but I am not so much of a nitpicker that it bothers me very much. I think he got away with it. But it sounds to me like he thought "life" was not of (a) high enough register for the impression he was trying to make. This can go either way.

anonymousIf adjectives could make it acceptable, Is "the rumour soon gained a long currency" also possible?

I see what you're asking, but I don't see how long currency can be gained soon. Maybe "The rumor had a long currency and the suddenly died." I don't like that, either. It calls attention to itself because the reader wants "currency" to be uncountable, and it sounds like elegant variation.

Uncountable Noun "Currency"

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