Using “woman” without article: “I am woman”
I heard the lyrics of a song by Helen Reddy:
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
[…]
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
The noun woman is used without an article throughout the song. Yet, when the singer says she is an embryo, the indefinite article is used. Is this usage of "woman" correct?
I think that "woman" in the song, is similar to "God" in the phrase "In God we trust." Am I right?
articles definite-articles indefinite-articles lyrics zero-article
edited 4 mins ago
Laurel
31.8k660113
asked 14 hours ago
noordinatornoordinator
113
New contributor
noordinator is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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I heard the lyrics of a song by Helen Reddy:
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
[…]
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
The noun woman is used without an article throughout the song. Yet, when the singer says she is an embryo, the indefinite article is used. Is this usage of "woman" correct?
I think that "woman" in the song, is similar to "God" in the phrase "In God we trust." Am I right?
articles definite-articles indefinite-articles lyrics zero-article
edited 4 mins ago
Laurel
31.8k660113
asked 14 hours ago
noordinatornoordinator
113
New contributor
noordinator is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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2
You can break any rule you like in a song (even use rhymes that don't rhyme).
– Weather Vane
14 hours ago
4
I'm a bit surprised this (perfectly valid) usage is not explained in a dictionary. What did your research tell you? We have a list of dictionaries if you couldn't find them online.
– Andrew Leach♦
14 hours ago
Title of song? Reading the rest of the lyrics would help
– Mari-Lou A
14 hours ago
2
"Man" is also used without article this way, but not e.g. "dog": "The dog is man's best friend", but not "Dog is man's best friend."
– bof
13 hours ago
1
Improvements to the question must be edited in, not left in comments.
– Mari-Lou A
12 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
I heard the lyrics of a song by Helen Reddy:
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
[…]
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
The noun woman is used without an article throughout the song. Yet, when the singer says she is an embryo, the indefinite article is used. Is this usage of "woman" correct?
I think that "woman" in the song, is similar to "God" in the phrase "In God we trust." Am I right?
articles definite-articles indefinite-articles lyrics zero-article
edited 4 mins ago
Laurel
31.8k660113
asked 14 hours ago
noordinatornoordinator
113
New contributor
noordinator is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I heard the lyrics of a song by Helen Reddy:
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
[…]
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
The noun woman is used without an article throughout the song. Yet, when the singer says she is an embryo, the indefinite article is used. Is this usage of "woman" correct?
I think that "woman" in the song, is similar to "God" in the phrase "In God we trust." Am I right?
articles definite-articles indefinite-articles lyrics zero-article
articles definite-articles indefinite-articles lyrics zero-article
edited 4 mins ago
Laurel
31.8k660113
asked 14 hours ago
noordinatornoordinator
113
New contributor
noordinator is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 4 mins ago
Laurel
31.8k660113
asked 14 hours ago
noordinatornoordinator
113
New contributor
noordinator is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 4 mins ago
Laurel
31.8k660113
edited 4 mins ago
Laurel
31.8k660113
edited 4 mins ago
Laurel
31.8k660113
31.8k660113
asked 14 hours ago
noordinatornoordinator
113
New contributor
noordinator is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 14 hours ago
noordinatornoordinator
113
asked 14 hours ago
noordinatornoordinator
113
113
New contributor
noordinator is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
noordinator is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
noordinator is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
You can break any rule you like in a song (even use rhymes that don't rhyme).
– Weather Vane
14 hours ago
4
I'm a bit surprised this (perfectly valid) usage is not explained in a dictionary. What did your research tell you? We have a list of dictionaries if you couldn't find them online.
– Andrew Leach♦
14 hours ago
Title of song? Reading the rest of the lyrics would help
– Mari-Lou A
14 hours ago
2
"Man" is also used without article this way, but not e.g. "dog": "The dog is man's best friend", but not "Dog is man's best friend."
– bof
13 hours ago
1
Improvements to the question must be edited in, not left in comments.
– Mari-Lou A
12 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
2
You can break any rule you like in a song (even use rhymes that don't rhyme).
– Weather Vane
14 hours ago
4
I'm a bit surprised this (perfectly valid) usage is not explained in a dictionary. What did your research tell you? We have a list of dictionaries if you couldn't find them online.
– Andrew Leach♦
14 hours ago
Title of song? Reading the rest of the lyrics would help
– Mari-Lou A
14 hours ago
2
"Man" is also used without article this way, but not e.g. "dog": "The dog is man's best friend", but not "Dog is man's best friend."
– bof
13 hours ago
1
Improvements to the question must be edited in, not left in comments.
– Mari-Lou A
12 hours ago
2
2
You can break any rule you like in a song (even use rhymes that don't rhyme).
– Weather Vane
14 hours ago
You can break any rule you like in a song (even use rhymes that don't rhyme).
– Weather Vane
14 hours ago
4
4
I'm a bit surprised this (perfectly valid) usage is not explained in a dictionary. What did your research tell you? We have a list of dictionaries if you couldn't find them online.
– Andrew Leach♦
14 hours ago
I'm a bit surprised this (perfectly valid) usage is not explained in a dictionary. What did your research tell you? We have a list of dictionaries if you couldn't find them online.
– Andrew Leach♦
14 hours ago
Title of song? Reading the rest of the lyrics would help
– Mari-Lou A
14 hours ago
Title of song? Reading the rest of the lyrics would help
– Mari-Lou A
14 hours ago
2
2
"Man" is also used without article this way, but not e.g. "dog": "The dog is man's best friend", but not "Dog is man's best friend."
– bof
13 hours ago
"Man" is also used without article this way, but not e.g. "dog": "The dog is man's best friend", but not "Dog is man's best friend."
– bof
13 hours ago
1
1
Improvements to the question must be edited in, not left in comments.
– Mari-Lou A
12 hours ago
Improvements to the question must be edited in, not left in comments.
– Mari-Lou A
12 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
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votes
woman uncountable noun Collins Dictionary
uncountable noun You can refer to women in general as woman ...the
oppression of woman.
As in:
I am woman.
As a lyric it is allowed, and it is grammatically correct. As to your question:
I think that "woman" in the song, is similar to "God" in the phrase
"In God we trust." Am I right?
Comparison to deity(ies) is difficult!
Man and men are sometimes used to refer to all human beings, including both males and females. Some people dislike this use, but if an artist were to write a song I am man (a variable noun), it would be grammatical too.
answered 57 mins ago
lbflbf
19.5k22270
add a comment |
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woman uncountable noun Collins Dictionary
uncountable noun You can refer to women in general as woman ...the
oppression of woman.
As in:
I am woman.
As a lyric it is allowed, and it is grammatically correct. As to your question:
I think that "woman" in the song, is similar to "God" in the phrase
"In God we trust." Am I right?
Comparison to deity(ies) is difficult!
Man and men are sometimes used to refer to all human beings, including both males and females. Some people dislike this use, but if an artist were to write a song I am man (a variable noun), it would be grammatical too.
answered 57 mins ago
lbflbf
19.5k22270
add a comment |
woman uncountable noun Collins Dictionary
uncountable noun You can refer to women in general as woman ...the
oppression of woman.
As in:
I am woman.
As a lyric it is allowed, and it is grammatically correct. As to your question:
I think that "woman" in the song, is similar to "God" in the phrase
"In God we trust." Am I right?
Comparison to deity(ies) is difficult!
Man and men are sometimes used to refer to all human beings, including both males and females. Some people dislike this use, but if an artist were to write a song I am man (a variable noun), it would be grammatical too.
answered 57 mins ago
lbflbf
19.5k22270
add a comment |
woman uncountable noun Collins Dictionary
uncountable noun You can refer to women in general as woman ...the
oppression of woman.
As in:
I am woman.
As a lyric it is allowed, and it is grammatically correct. As to your question:
I think that "woman" in the song, is similar to "God" in the phrase
"In God we trust." Am I right?
Comparison to deity(ies) is difficult!
Man and men are sometimes used to refer to all human beings, including both males and females. Some people dislike this use, but if an artist were to write a song I am man (a variable noun), it would be grammatical too.
answered 57 mins ago
lbflbf
19.5k22270
woman uncountable noun Collins Dictionary
uncountable noun You can refer to women in general as woman ...the
oppression of woman.
As in:
I am woman.
As a lyric it is allowed, and it is grammatically correct. As to your question:
I think that "woman" in the song, is similar to "God" in the phrase
"In God we trust." Am I right?
Comparison to deity(ies) is difficult!
Man and men are sometimes used to refer to all human beings, including both males and females. Some people dislike this use, but if an artist were to write a song I am man (a variable noun), it would be grammatical too.
answered 57 mins ago
lbflbf
19.5k22270
edited 51 mins ago
answered 57 mins ago
lbflbf
19.5k22270
answered 57 mins ago
lbflbf
19.5k22270
answered 57 mins ago
lbflbf
19.5k22270
19.5k22270
add a comment |
add a comment |
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2
You can break any rule you like in a song (even use rhymes that don't rhyme).
– Weather Vane
14 hours ago
4
I'm a bit surprised this (perfectly valid) usage is not explained in a dictionary. What did your research tell you? We have a list of dictionaries if you couldn't find them online.
– Andrew Leach♦
14 hours ago
Title of song? Reading the rest of the lyrics would help
– Mari-Lou A
14 hours ago
2
"Man" is also used without article this way, but not e.g. "dog": "The dog is man's best friend", but not "Dog is man's best friend."
– bof
13 hours ago
1
Improvements to the question must be edited in, not left in comments.
– Mari-Lou A
12 hours ago