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... so that the cost of such a broadcast stays zero.

Is this sentence correct ? or should I omit the a?

Thank you!

din
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  • Can you provide more context? –  Jul 20 '16 at 16:28
  • Broadcast as a noun can be countable and uncountable. So we should know its exact meaning to decide. –  Jul 20 '16 at 16:30
  • I've racked my brains, but I can't think of any context where it would be syntactically valid to dispense with the article in OP's "text fragment" as cited. – FumbleFingers Jul 20 '16 at 16:40
  • @FumbleFingers Hi! This is me again, Sina. I had these in mind when I posted the comment: 1 a radio or TV program (c), 2. The act of broadcasting something (u). Please tell me what's my mistake. I promise not to ask for paraphrasing;-) –  Jul 20 '16 at 16:49
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    @Avicenna: I don't think countable or uncountable is an issue here. Note that both your definitions include articles (a* radio or TV program, the act of broadcasting). The only really valid way of avoiding the article would be something like The cost of such broadcasting is negligible*. – FumbleFingers Jul 20 '16 at 16:59
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    I can see the article being omitted in a sort of legalese phrasing, for example something like, "If a fee is charged for a broadcast, then the receiver shall reimburse the sender so that the cost of such broadcast stays zero." – stangdon Jul 20 '16 at 17:02
  • @FumbleFingers please take a look at this,I mean the count and noncount part. In Cambridge dictionary the noncount form is listed as broadcasting but in Webster's Learners dictionary both the count and noncount forms are listed as broadcast. I am gradually doubting the authenticity of Webster's! –  Jul 20 '16 at 20:31
  • @Avicenna: Actually, when I looked at the example in that M-W Learners definition for noncount usage, my first thought was that I would have said The judge decided to allow broadcasting* of the trial. Not that I find broadcast* completely wrong - it's just not my preferred choice. So I checked Google Books to find they claim 317 instances of allow broadcasting of, compared to 201 of allow broadcast of. Things like this aren't always black & white, but I may investigate the underlying principle a bit deeper on ELU. – FumbleFingers Jul 21 '16 at 12:25
  • Does this answer your question? "Such" vs. "Such a" – Serge Stroobandt May 05 '20 at 10:51

1 Answers1

3

It is correct, because "broadcast" is singular.

such a broadcast

vs.

such broadcasts

eelero
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