'this is nonsense' vs. 'this is a nonsense'

I don't why people are saying "this is a nonsense" lately. It seems like a recent development.

I was going to ask who says 'this is a nonsense' but then I remembered that Tory MPs say it all the time - must be a *public school thing. Also, I don't think it's a recent development at all.

(*i.e. private school)

I've never heard the second. Makes as much sense as me saying "A little fewer nonsense over there, please" to my class.

it's def the kind of pretentious unnecessary change that some posh public school kids would start saying xp

"a nonsense" is definitely a thing that I've heard english folk saying. not necessarily limited to the posh

Nonsense is a mass noun, not a count noun!

John Giles forever

But they are different things

And sometimes an adjective as in “a nonsense poem”

"Making a nonsense of something", you're more likely to hear (non-Tory MP) people say tbf.

"this is a nonsense" is self-descriptive

they mean different things: hence, two different phrases

"this is nonsense" means what you think it means: this is rubbish, this is ridiculous, this makes no sense

"this is a nonsense" is more judgmental about activity leading to a situation or a result (ie it means some like oliver hardy's "you've made a fine mess of this")

the bit in brackets is a better stab at the meaning that the bit about judgment -- i'm still quite ill and my brain is swerving all over the place, i should actually go to bed

it's the opposite of a recent development

and it is class-flavoured, if not class-based, bcz the lowly don't get to say this much to their bosses

That's a nonsense mark tbh

the class bit? maybe evidentially and historically, but i still think it accounts for the flavour

Never heard of "this is a nonsense" before tonight either. Seems like a nonsense tbh.

I winced at the last sentence as I typed it.

how do people feel about "makes a nonsense of" vs "makes nonsense of"? this definition suggests that they are interchangeable:

make (a) nonsense of sth
uk
​
C2 to make something appear stupid or wrong, or to spoil something:

His repeated lack of promotion makes nonsense of the theory that if you work hard you'll be successful.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/make-a-nonsense-of-sth

“a nonsense” = a farce, as far as I can tell. Maybe from “stuff and nonsense“?

nonsensical exists as a word, just saying

'a nonsense' seems like an affectation people use to make themselves sound like a fusty old colonel or something

https://i2.wp.com/i1.cdnds.net/12/23/618x469/brass-eye-2.JPG

"this is an utter nonsense"

About 11,100 results (0.54 seconds)

"this is utterly nonsensical"

About 4,140 results (0.48 seconds)

"this is utter nonsense"

About 124,000 results (0.29 seconds)

"a load of old cobblers"

About 12,900 results (0.68 seconds)

"whatchu talkin bout willis"

About 36,500 results (0.65 seconds)

this is something i learnt the other day >

https://image.ibb.co/eVvaP6/Capture.jpg

Nonce Sense lol. That ep is still one of the funniest things ever. "Paedophiles have more genes in common with crabs than they do with you and me. Now that's a scientific fact: there's no real evidence for it, but it is scientific fact."

Also "a nonsense" is ridiculous.

both good, this thread is some nonsense

xp u mean "a ridiculous" surely

I believe the correct phrasing is 'this is an nonsense'.

both good, this thread is *the correct usage*

'this is madness' vs. 'this is a madness'

soref gets it

i've noticed on message boards over the years that declaring something to be "a bullshit" is a clear marker of an ESL contributor

improving the language one message board post at a time

i am stealing a bullshit

Ooooooh, this is a nonsense!

https://i.imgur.com/cXmLtgo.gif

'this is madness' vs. 'this is a madness'

― soref, Thursday, January 18, 2018 9:55 AM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

The first is correct when referring to the band, the second is the term of venery forrrrrrr...scorpions, I believe? 'This is a madness of deadly scorpions'? That sounds right to me.

i for one appreciate the linguistic innovations of esl ppl, youths, americans and any other ppl who haven't mastered english

me too!

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Leaving it this long was a nonsense tbh

write-in vote for 'this is one nonsense'

'this is a nonsense' reminds me of 'it's an open-y'

Been looking for a good name for my pop ska Scorps tribute band. Thanks, Old Lunch.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

A nonsense result why do you hate what you do not recognise

This is outrage

^^^doesn't get it

It is to weep.