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When talking about terms it should be with article (a/an) before the term? For example:

1 What is an urticaria?

or

2 What is urticaria?

Thanks!

Virtuous Legend
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    Note, because [urticaria](http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/urticaria) begins with a vowel *sound*, you would use *an* urticaria. Except that since it is an uncountable or mass noun, you would usually not use the indefinite article before it. –  Apr 12 '15 at 04:22
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    If you say "What does *urticaria* mean?", then you don't need an article even if it is a count noun. –  Apr 12 '15 at 06:00

2 Answers2

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It depends on the word you are asking about.

You would not use an article if you are asking about

  • A mass noun

    "What is spaghetti?"

  • A proper noun, or a name.

    "What is 'The New York Times'?"

  • A plural noun.

    "What are fish?" or "What is a fish?"

In every other context, you would use an article.

As for the example you gave, "urticaria" is a mass noun, so you should say:

"What is urticaria?"

DJMcMayhem
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  • [Urticaria](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urticaria) would be "What **is** urticaria". It's an ailment and is singular. Even "[hives](http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hives-and-angioedema/basics/definition/con-20014815)", though plural sounding, **should** get the singular. See the first sentence of the Wikipedia article: "Urticaria [...] commonly referred to as hives, ***is*** a kind of skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps." – Catija Apr 12 '15 at 05:23
  • Oh, okay, I will edit that in. – DJMcMayhem Apr 12 '15 at 05:31
  • @Catija Some dictionaries call *hives* a 'plural noun' while others just say it can take either a singular or plural verb. See [Free Dictionary](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hives) and [One Look](http://www.onelook.com/?w=Hives&ls=a) –  Apr 12 '15 at 13:58
  • Thank you. What is "mass noun"? – Virtuous Legend Apr 12 '15 at 18:13
  • There is a link in my answer. A mass noun is any noun that you can't count, for example water, or grass. You cannot say "I have three water" – DJMcMayhem Apr 12 '15 at 18:15
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If you have never heard the word urticaria, you simply ask: What is urticaria. It is totally irrelevant whether it is a mass noun or not, or a term or not. You don't know the word, so you don't know what kind of word it is.

rogermue
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