Exceptions when to use a / an + hair / hairs

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Exceptions when to use a / an + hair / hairs

Is there any exception when to use A or A with Hair or Hairs?

Please give explanations too.

thanks

Manu

2

.
I’m not precisely sure of your question, Manu. These are correct:

There is a hair in my soup. ‘Hair’ is countable and singular.
The poor man only has three hairs left on his head. ‘Hair’ is countable and plural.
He has very little hair left after his radiotherapy. ‘Hair’ is uncountable.

‘An’ is not used in any case.
.

3

Hi MM

Can we also say “some hair”? Also, could “little hair” be confused by “short hair” by some? Please shed some light on this.

Thanks in advance

Tom

4

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You can say ‘some hair’. ‘Little’ cannot be confused with ‘short’ here by a native speaker.
.

5

Could you tell me which version (if any) is grammatically acceptable?

  1. At the sight of the blood spattered wall, the hairs on the nape of his neck bristled.
  2. At the sight of the blood spattered wall, the hair on the nape of his neck bristled.

Thanks in advance.

6

They’re both fine. I tend to think “hair” is likelier in that context, though.

7

Thank you.

8

#1 gave me a vivider picture in a literary sense as if every single hair instead of the mass hair on the nape of his neck bristled.

9

I’d also prefer ‘hairs’ in that context though I agree that both are acceptable. I guess we all have different experiences and preferences.