Grammar vs. Lexicographic Practice – a Few Remarks on What English Dictionaries Do Not Say About Countable and Uncountable Nouns (Though They Should)

Abstract

The issue of countability and uncountability of English nouns may seem simple – nouns are count when their designations can be counted, and mass when they cannot (e.g., Huddleston & Pullum, 2002, p. 334). Consequently, we might expect that lexicographic characteristics of nouns will be generally unequivocal: count or mass. However, a closer analysis of this issue reveals several fundamental problems of grammatical and lexicographic nature. The article analyses how grammatical problems with such classifications translate into lexicographic practice. The analysis focuses on five reputable dictionaries of English and their approaches to the issue of countability and uncountability of selected nouns.