Non-specific reference

Non-specific reference means you are referring to any one of many possible items, or are introducing a noun for the first time in the text.

• Countable nouns can have a (single) or some (plural).
• Uncountable nouns have some or no article.

Countable nouns

Table for Countable nouns

Reference	Singular Plural	Article	Noun
b. Non-specific	Singular	a	computer
	Plural	some	computers

Uncountable nouns

Table for Uncountable nouns

Reference		Article	Noun
b. Non-specific		some	information

Non specific reference is often the natural choice when describing a design, process or experimental procedure.