Una confusión

[irmamar]

I want to say: "Hay una confusión con el término politeness...":

There is a confusion with the term politeness.

But the spelling checker says that that "a" is wrong.

[poli]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I want to say: "Hay una confusión con el término politeness...":

There is a confusion with the term politeness.

But the spelling checker says that that "a" is wrong.

There's confusion over the term politeness. (with is OK too, but over is better in this case--like sobre and con)
The game changes when confusion is proceeded with an adjective. In that case, including the word a is correct but optional.
Example: there's a big confusion over... also: there's big confusion over...

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I want to say: "Hay una confusión con el término politeness...":

There is a confusion with the term politeness.

But the spelling checker says that that "a" is wrong.

Ignore what a spell checker says. Mine actually tells me that the passive voice is wrong (in English). What kind of idiot says that?

[Awaken]

I personally prefer it without the 'a' - In AmE, I think you'll find it more common without. Can't speak for BrE.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Ignore what a spell checker says. Mine actually tells me that the passive voice is wrong (in English). What kind of idiot says that?

Yes, mine too.

Thanks everybody.

[Sancho Panther]

I have never read nor heard the expression 'a confusion'. Even if it's not actually wrong, it's bad literary style.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Sancho Panther

I have never read nor heard the expression 'a confusion'. Even if it's not actually wrong, it's bad literary style.

It is not actually wrong, and it sounds perfectly fine to me. The BNC has 97 hits on 'a confusion'.

[JPablo]

To me, these two sentences are correct, but mean different things.

There is a confusion with the term politeness. (There is one specific misunderstanding/confusion/a specific lack of clearness or distinctness... you name it)

There is confusion with the term politeness. (This means to me confusion in general, no something specific, but the whole term “politeness” is a mess)

My spell checker (being a machine, not a sentient being, although programmed by one... we hope...) says, (and I quote)

If you are using a noun that cannot be counted or divided such as “oil”, “happiness” or “furniture” it is incorrect to modify that noun with “a” “each” “every” “either” or “neither”.

Instead of: Do you have a knowledge of Greek. *
Consider: Do you have knowledge of Greek.

Instead of: The toddlers liked to move a furniture. *
Consider: The toddlers liked to move furniture.

(unquote)

In the furniture I will consider the above... I mean... in the future.

(This by the by, reminds me my learning of French, a sentence that said something like, “Professeur, il y a un erreur sur le tableau!” (Horreur! Diría yo!)
But that is a horse of another hue... harina de otro costal... y no me voy yo a poner a mezclar las churras con las merinas... con lo apretado de tiempo que voy...

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by JPablo

My spell checker (being a machine, not a sentient being, although programmed by one... we hope...) says, (and I quote)

If you are using a noun that cannot be counted or divided such as “oil”, “happiness” or “furniture” it is incorrect to modify that noun with “a” “each” “every” “either” or “neither”.

Instead of: Do you have a knowledge of Greek. *
Consider: Do you have knowledge of Greek.
...

Sorry, but this is the kind of crap you get from a spell checker. It is disgraceful. What authority do they have? They make ignorant and absurd generalizations.

a knowledge of Greek is perfectly good English

And how about "I'm looking for an oil with the following characteristics ....." ???

"I'm seeking neither happiness nor wealth"

[irmamar]

Yes, JPablo, that's what I meant. Thanks. And thanks everybody, too.

[JPablo]

Originally Posted by Perikles

a knowledge of Greek is perfectly good English

And how about "I'm looking for an oil with the following characteristics ....." ???

"I'm seeking neither happiness nor wealth"

I agree with you, Perikles, bearing in mind you, of all people, must have a knowledge of Greek!

The thing with spell checkers is to use them for what they are, and to have the best spell checker in the world, you'll have to have one with sentient abilities... Sure, the guys who programmed intended well, (I take) but these are just tools, we can use or not, as we consider fit...

Interestingly enough, a Google search only gives 3 hits for "do you have a knowledge of Greek"... and no hits for "do you have knowledge of Greek"

While you get examples like,
You must have a working knowledge of Greek to teach students English...

"Knowledge of Greek" gets quite some more hits than "a knowledge of Greek".

(Well, I hope I'll be improving my English... so it will not be Greek to me...)

@Irma... vale. Lo cortés no quita lo valiente. Ni lo Cuauhtémoc.

[irmamar]

Cuauhtémoc? Where did you put your fingers?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by JPablo

The thing with spell checkers is to use them for what they are, .

Yes, they check spelling. They don't make breakfast, they don't wash the car, and they most certainly do not dictate what is or is not good English.

I have surprised myself by getting quite cross about this. But I'm not having some Microsoft cretin telling me how to express myself. to him/her

[JPablo]

Well put!
¡Así se habla!