Use of "hallmark/earmark"

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

Hello,

Could you check my sentences, please?

  1. The company has all the earmarks of a success.
  2. The company has all the hallmarks of a success.

Thanks!

2

They’re both fine.

3

The company has all the earmarks of success.
(In this context ‘earmark’=a characteristic or identifying feature.)

The company has all the hallmarks of success.
(Hallmark = A distinctive feature, especially indicating excellence.)

So both are similar, but note the removal of the article. This is not one success, but success in general more abstract terms, treated as uncountable.

4

Hi,

To me ‘earmarks of success’ sounds very strange. I only know ‘earmark’ as a verb suggesting set aside/put to one side something for future use as in: In this project we have earmarked £2000 for putting in new windows. 'Hallmark of success suggests some kind of symbol or feature of something, usually indicating a high standard. ‘Hallmark’ is used to show a standard in precious metals such as silver.

Alan

5

Hi,

‘earmark’ in Oxford Online Dictionary
See noun usage 1.

6

Pace the Oxford Dictionary, bless it, but it still sounds strange to me.

Alan

7

BNC has:

bnc.bl.uk/saraWeb.php?qy=earmark&mysubmit=Go

Alan

8

When I first read Tort’s question I had to stop and think. Although I have only used ‘hallmarks’ I knew that I’d heard others use ‘earmarks’. It dawned on me that I might have been accepting something akin to a malapropism that I’d heard so often it didn’t occur to me to question, which is when I headed for the dictionary. OED confirmed what I’d heard but it’s obviously not in such common usage as neither you (Alan) nor BNC seem to have heard of it!

Thanks for your opinion and the additional research… it is greatly valued.

9

This is interesting too:

In United States politics, an earmark is a legislative (especially congressional) provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees. Earmarks can be added on to appropriations bills (causing more money to be spent) or they can be “carved out” of bills (the same amount of money is spent, but restrictions are placed on how the money is spent). The term “earmark” is used in this sense only in the United States, and it is not recognized as a noun by major dictionaries (such as the OED and Merriam-Webster).[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, photographs: At the hospital[YSaerTTEW443543]

10

Yes, it is. “Earmark” is the polite term, and the disdainful one is “pork-barrel spending.” It’s a perennial election topic.

11

Many thanks to everybody who’s replied!

Hello Bev,

I see what you mean.
I’ve found this sentence “He wasn’t much of a success in life”.
In the example above, isn’t the word “success” used as an abstract term too? Or does it mean “one that is successful”?
Thanks!

12

I would consider that to be abstract too, Tort.

13

I see,

So, you would never say “he wasn’t much of a success in life”, but you would rather say “he wasn’t (any) success in his life”, correct?

14

I would say ‘he wasn’t much of a success…’?
I think I might have mis-led you with my answer and didn’t think hard enough about the significance of the article, sorry.

I certainly wouldn’t say “he wasn’t (any) success in his life” - that doesn’t make sense.

I might say ‘He wasn’t successful in his life.’

15

Hi OTS,

There is no problem in using abstract nouns with an article. It doesn’t really matter whether they are countable or uncountable especially since many nouns can be both. Take these: I have a fear of heights/ She has an understanding with her mother.

‘Success’ in your sentence is used in an abstract way and so needs no article:

.

Alan

16

Hello Bev and Alan,

Many thanks for your explanations!