word choice - "There is no rule" vs. "there isn't rule"


What are the differences between the two sentences below:



There is no rule.


There isn't rule.




Answer



The second should be



There isn't a rule.



Rules are countable, so the singular "rule" needs an article or counter of some sort. In the first sentence, "no" counts the number of rules present. In the second "is not" doesn't count, so adding "a" is appropriate.


EDIT: beyond that correction, the two sentences have the same basic meaning. "There is no rule" is more emphatic, but both can be quite strong depending on how they are spoken.


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