Use of Article and Plural Noun
Use of Article and Plural Noun
(OP)
I am drafting a cover and come across a few grammatical problems.
I wonder there are any native English speakers giving some clues on the use of article and plural noun. Here below is one of paragraphs:
....my experience has been concentrated in a variety of bridge projects which ranged from (the???) design(s) of (any article? ) pre-tensioned integral and steel composite box girder bridge(s) [If I did 3 integral bridges and one box girder bridge] to (an or the) assessment of a post-tensioned box girder bridge.
Thanks!
HP
I wonder there are any native English speakers giving some clues on the use of article and plural noun. Here below is one of paragraphs:
....my experience has been concentrated in a variety of bridge projects which ranged from (the???) design(s) of (any article? ) pre-tensioned integral and steel composite box girder bridge(s) [If I did 3 integral bridges and one box girder bridge] to (an or the) assessment of a post-tensioned box girder bridge.
Thanks!
HP
RE: Use of Article and Plural Noun
"....my experience covers a variety of bridge projects ranging from the design of pre-tensioned integral and steel composite box girder bridges to the assessment of a post-tensioned box girder bridge."
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Use of Article and Plural Noun
"...... my experience covers a variety of bridge projects including the design of three pre-tensioned integral and steel composite box girder designs and the assessment of 1 post-tensioned box girder design."
RE: Use of Article and Plural Noun
"I have designed (or been a member of the design team) of several bridges. I also assessed the condition (or design?) of a bridge to achieve some specific goal."
Leave the details of what types of bridges for the resume.
RE: Use of Article and Plural Noun
There are two articles, 'a' and 'the'. Use 'a' when speaking in generalities and 'the' when being specific.
If you did a design of a pre-tensioned integral and steel composite box girder bridge, you would be saying that you did one design, not necessarily the only only design, and not necessarily the design chosen, of that type of bridge.
If you did the design of a pre-tensioned integral and steel composite box girder bridge, you would be saying that you did the actual design chosen for that type of bridge.
If you did a design of the pre-tensioned integral and steel composite box girder bridge, you would be saying that you did one design, not necessarily the only only design, and not necessarily the chosen design, of a very specific bridge of that type. It would be assumed that the reader knows exactly which bridge you're talking about.
If you did the design of the pre-tensioned integral and steel composite box girder bridge, you would be saying that you did the actual design chosen for a very specific bridge of that type. Again, it would be assumed that the reader knows exactly which bridge you're talking about.
I would suspect that you want to say that you did the design of a bridge.
That being said, I agree with MintJulep. Let the cover letter speak to your skills and your resume or CV to specifics. Another option to consider might be this:
... my experience has been concentrated in a variety of bridge projects which include both bridge design and bridge assessment.
Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
RE: Use of Article and Plural Noun
I understand a cover letter focuses on general skills rather than what I did on a particular project. However, when I drafted the cover, the issues of "article" come to my mind and I want to take this opportunity to make it clear.....
RE: Use of Article and Plural Noun
For example some readers might believe the plural of fish is fishes and would mentally give you a black mark as a result.
So in my experience, it's better to keep it as simple, yet professional as possible and allow the resume to be read by those in the know and the cover letter to be read by those who simply read cover letters.
drawn to design, designed to draw
RE: Use of Article and Plural Noun
RE: Use of Article and Plural Noun
I consider a and an the same article since a is used before words that begin with consonant sounds and an before those with vowel sounds.
==> I believe the articles are somewhat dictated, as you noted, by the singular or plural use of the noun.
That's not quite what I said. It's true that a(n) is only used with the singular since it's generic in nature, i.e., not referring to specific noun or nouns. However, 'the' may be used with both singular and plural nouns. 'The' is used when referring to a specific item or items.
The bridge is out.
The bridges are out.
Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
RE: Use of Article and Plural Noun
RE: Use of Article and Plural Noun
Just to point out you either misused the word, "which," or you left out a comma prior to the word, "which." The word, "which" sets off an independent clause that can be excluded from the sentence and still preserve meaning. As a result, it needs to be used in conjunction with a comma.
Carry on. . .
f-d
¡papá gordo ain't no madre flaca!