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Goodboy · April 21, 2010, 7:15pm

Is it correct to say:

A point of a diamond? or
The point of a diamond?

Alan · April 21, 2010, 7:53pm

Hi,

Both make sense.

Alan

Goodboy · April 21, 2010, 8:02pm

Thanks Alan.

Gorpub · April 21, 2010, 8:41pm

The is correct

Blue_Snow · April 22, 2010, 8:55am

Well I even don’t understand the meaning. A point of diamond? A very small diamond?

Alan · April 22, 2010, 8:57am

Hi,

This would be: A point of a diamond.

Alan

Gorpub · April 22, 2010, 10:22pm

A point of diamond.

Haihao · April 23, 2010, 1:01am

“A point of diamond.” is very wrong. As Alan said, it should be “A point of a diamond.” Maybe you wanted to say “a tiny piece of diamond”?

Blue_Snow · April 23, 2010, 4:20am

I think if we want to imply a tiny diamond, we need to say A point of diamond because A point of a diamond may imply A point of some diamond we have seen or known before

Haihao · April 23, 2010, 4:24am

Please observe “diamond” in *A point of diamond turned mass noun.

Blue_Snow · April 23, 2010, 4:26am

I know it is but what’s then?

Haihao · April 23, 2010, 4:30am

Is this what you wanted to express in English?: “I know it. So what?”

Blue_Snow · April 23, 2010, 4:36am

Oh please dont laugh at me. I just think an a is necessary here

Haihao · April 23, 2010, 4:53am

Never will I or anybody if you stop misleading people.

Blue_Snow · April 23, 2010, 5:00am

I still dont understand the difference between the two expressions. Could you tell me more carefully?

Haihao · April 23, 2010, 5:20am

OK. *A point of diamond (alone) can never become a legitimate phrase. A difference between a phrase and a nonphrase is the difference.

Skydegirl · April 23, 2010, 7:10am

Hello Blue_Snow,

Here is the definite and indefinite articles english-test.net/lessons/16/index.html with explanations. Please read about it and hope you will understand more on how tu use this articles. It’s very simple.

Let me know if you assimilate them.
Have a nice day.

Alan · April 23, 2010, 7:13am

Hi Skydegirl,

Thanks for promoting my article!

Alan

Expatcat · April 23, 2010, 7:24am

I hope this does not confuse the issue, but in diamond terminology, a point is a unit of measurement. One point is equal to 1/100 of a carat. If I were talking about the part of a cut diamond where it comes to a point, and I was using it figuratively, I would use the word tip.

He is as sharp as a/the tip of a diamond.

But if the context of the OP’s sentence had anything to do with diamond technology, it could very well be “a point of diamond” or “a point of a diamond”.

Skydegirl · April 23, 2010, 7:24am

Hi Alan,

While others people help me to improve my English, I hope to be useful too as long as I can.

It was nice to talk to you.