Proofreading Service - Pain in the English
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Proofreading Service - Pain in the English
Proofreading Service - Pain in the English

Your Pain Is Our Pleasure

24-Hour Proofreading Service—We proofread your Google Docs or Microsoft Word files. We hate grammatical errors with a passion. Learn More

Value

What is the difference between:

“It has a value.” and “It has value.”

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Comments

"A value" is a quantity. Such as: "X has a value of 29." Whereas, value itself could be quantifiable or instrinsic, for example "My life has value to me." Value could refer to its monetary worth, or its personal worth. Value itself may or may not be arbitrary.

purpledragon Feb-20-2003

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Purple Dragon's right. Anything can have value, or have some value; but when it has a value, it's a quantitative measure, and math probably comes into it.

tnh Mar-17-2003

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I'll go with the simple objective vs. subjective angle.

Weaver Mar-18-2003

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'a value' can also leave the door open for a negative total assesment. 'Some value' often works better for this, as in "Bob's a jerk, but he has some value, if only as a bad example!". Speakers might use 'a value' as shorthand, meaning a single positive property was all that existed in a sea of negative value prperties.

Mark2 Mar-18-2003

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"A value" indicates a specific assignment of value.

Without the article "a" it simply means the speaker or writer see value in "it", making it not worthless. No indication of specific worth is implied.

english Mar-18-2003

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"a value" is defined and tangible
"value" is abstract

me1 Mar-18-2003

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To me, "a value" is an extrinsic quality and precise. Value, on the other hand, is intrinsic and vague.

owl Mar-19-2003

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The difference is instantiation.

dan Mar-23-2003

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Simply put, "It has value" is qualitative, as in "valuable".

"It has a value" is NOT quantitative, it's simpler than that: "It has a value" can only be interpreted as "It has a number [associated with it]".

rostor Apr-10-2003

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Context is absent, but I'd say, "It has value" means "It is valuable." Meaning: substantial value.

"It has a value" means "It is not worthless." Meaning: minimal value.

erle Apr-10-2003

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