why isn't “a single + noun” a tautological repeat?












1














By definition,




single means

(1) : consisting of or having only one part, feature, or portion



(2) : consisting of one as opposed to or in contrast with many



(3) : consisting of only one in number



by Merriam-Webster




So why do we still say




"a single rose"



"hold to a single ideal"




Not




"single rose"



"hold to single ideal"











share|improve this question



























    1














    By definition,




    single means

    (1) : consisting of or having only one part, feature, or portion



    (2) : consisting of one as opposed to or in contrast with many



    (3) : consisting of only one in number



    by Merriam-Webster




    So why do we still say




    "a single rose"



    "hold to a single ideal"




    Not




    "single rose"



    "hold to single ideal"











    share|improve this question

























      1












      1








      1







      By definition,




      single means

      (1) : consisting of or having only one part, feature, or portion



      (2) : consisting of one as opposed to or in contrast with many



      (3) : consisting of only one in number



      by Merriam-Webster




      So why do we still say




      "a single rose"



      "hold to a single ideal"




      Not




      "single rose"



      "hold to single ideal"











      share|improve this question













      By definition,




      single means

      (1) : consisting of or having only one part, feature, or portion



      (2) : consisting of one as opposed to or in contrast with many



      (3) : consisting of only one in number



      by Merriam-Webster




      So why do we still say




      "a single rose"



      "hold to a single ideal"




      Not




      "single rose"



      "hold to single ideal"








      word-usage






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 1 hour ago









      B ChenB Chen

      2771211




      2771211






















          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          2














          Repetition can be used for emphasis.



          The indefinite article "a" does imply that there is only one [thing](otherwise you would normally use no article and a plural noun). So maybe you could say "single" is redundant in some sentences. But people do use it for emphasis when they want to make an explicit point that there is only one [thing].



          Perhaps the word "single" could be left out in some situations, but the article "a" is a feature of the language, and you can't leave that word out (as you seem to suggest.) If you feel "a single" is repetitive, then leave out the "single". The "a" isn't optional.






          share|improve this answer





























            2














            Single serves the same role here that any other adjective would do, whether we are talking about a single rose, a solitary rose, a red rose or any other rose.



            Introducing an adjective to qualify the rose does not change the need for the article a (or the)



            The role of single is to emphasise that there are no other roses, not to replace the article.



            It makes the difference between statements such as:




            a pupil raised her hand

            and
            a single pupil raised her hand.




            The adjective changes the nuance. The emphasis moves from the raising of the hand to the fact that only a single pupil does so. The same is true for saying a rose stood in the vase and a single rose stood in the vase.



            The same rule applies regardless of whether you are talking about a rose, an ideal or any other noun.






            share|improve this answer





















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              2 Answers
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              active

              oldest

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              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

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              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              2














              Repetition can be used for emphasis.



              The indefinite article "a" does imply that there is only one [thing](otherwise you would normally use no article and a plural noun). So maybe you could say "single" is redundant in some sentences. But people do use it for emphasis when they want to make an explicit point that there is only one [thing].



              Perhaps the word "single" could be left out in some situations, but the article "a" is a feature of the language, and you can't leave that word out (as you seem to suggest.) If you feel "a single" is repetitive, then leave out the "single". The "a" isn't optional.






              share|improve this answer


























                2














                Repetition can be used for emphasis.



                The indefinite article "a" does imply that there is only one [thing](otherwise you would normally use no article and a plural noun). So maybe you could say "single" is redundant in some sentences. But people do use it for emphasis when they want to make an explicit point that there is only one [thing].



                Perhaps the word "single" could be left out in some situations, but the article "a" is a feature of the language, and you can't leave that word out (as you seem to suggest.) If you feel "a single" is repetitive, then leave out the "single". The "a" isn't optional.






                share|improve this answer
























                  2












                  2








                  2






                  Repetition can be used for emphasis.



                  The indefinite article "a" does imply that there is only one [thing](otherwise you would normally use no article and a plural noun). So maybe you could say "single" is redundant in some sentences. But people do use it for emphasis when they want to make an explicit point that there is only one [thing].



                  Perhaps the word "single" could be left out in some situations, but the article "a" is a feature of the language, and you can't leave that word out (as you seem to suggest.) If you feel "a single" is repetitive, then leave out the "single". The "a" isn't optional.






                  share|improve this answer












                  Repetition can be used for emphasis.



                  The indefinite article "a" does imply that there is only one [thing](otherwise you would normally use no article and a plural noun). So maybe you could say "single" is redundant in some sentences. But people do use it for emphasis when they want to make an explicit point that there is only one [thing].



                  Perhaps the word "single" could be left out in some situations, but the article "a" is a feature of the language, and you can't leave that word out (as you seem to suggest.) If you feel "a single" is repetitive, then leave out the "single". The "a" isn't optional.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 1 hour ago









                  Lorel C.Lorel C.

                  1,20535




                  1,20535

























                      2














                      Single serves the same role here that any other adjective would do, whether we are talking about a single rose, a solitary rose, a red rose or any other rose.



                      Introducing an adjective to qualify the rose does not change the need for the article a (or the)



                      The role of single is to emphasise that there are no other roses, not to replace the article.



                      It makes the difference between statements such as:




                      a pupil raised her hand

                      and
                      a single pupil raised her hand.




                      The adjective changes the nuance. The emphasis moves from the raising of the hand to the fact that only a single pupil does so. The same is true for saying a rose stood in the vase and a single rose stood in the vase.



                      The same rule applies regardless of whether you are talking about a rose, an ideal or any other noun.






                      share|improve this answer


























                        2














                        Single serves the same role here that any other adjective would do, whether we are talking about a single rose, a solitary rose, a red rose or any other rose.



                        Introducing an adjective to qualify the rose does not change the need for the article a (or the)



                        The role of single is to emphasise that there are no other roses, not to replace the article.



                        It makes the difference between statements such as:




                        a pupil raised her hand

                        and
                        a single pupil raised her hand.




                        The adjective changes the nuance. The emphasis moves from the raising of the hand to the fact that only a single pupil does so. The same is true for saying a rose stood in the vase and a single rose stood in the vase.



                        The same rule applies regardless of whether you are talking about a rose, an ideal or any other noun.






                        share|improve this answer
























                          2












                          2








                          2






                          Single serves the same role here that any other adjective would do, whether we are talking about a single rose, a solitary rose, a red rose or any other rose.



                          Introducing an adjective to qualify the rose does not change the need for the article a (or the)



                          The role of single is to emphasise that there are no other roses, not to replace the article.



                          It makes the difference between statements such as:




                          a pupil raised her hand

                          and
                          a single pupil raised her hand.




                          The adjective changes the nuance. The emphasis moves from the raising of the hand to the fact that only a single pupil does so. The same is true for saying a rose stood in the vase and a single rose stood in the vase.



                          The same rule applies regardless of whether you are talking about a rose, an ideal or any other noun.






                          share|improve this answer












                          Single serves the same role here that any other adjective would do, whether we are talking about a single rose, a solitary rose, a red rose or any other rose.



                          Introducing an adjective to qualify the rose does not change the need for the article a (or the)



                          The role of single is to emphasise that there are no other roses, not to replace the article.



                          It makes the difference between statements such as:




                          a pupil raised her hand

                          and
                          a single pupil raised her hand.




                          The adjective changes the nuance. The emphasis moves from the raising of the hand to the fact that only a single pupil does so. The same is true for saying a rose stood in the vase and a single rose stood in the vase.



                          The same rule applies regardless of whether you are talking about a rose, an ideal or any other noun.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 1 hour ago









                          Ronald SoleRonald Sole

                          9,89611019




                          9,89611019






























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