English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
EXPUNGE THE ARTICLE ‘A’
She’s ~a living proof~ that God answers prayers (nonstandard).
She’s living proof that God answers prayers (standard).
Someone that provides an example that proves that something can be done is living proof.
You’re not having ~a second thoughts~ about this, are you (nonstandard)?
You’re not having second thoughts about this, are you (standard)?
However, when preceded by the preposition, “without”, the idiom attracts an ‘a’:
She went ahead to do it without a second thought .
GAB
