as writer etc., without gun etc.

[engee30]

Is it correct to say or write like this (without the article 'a'):

He started his career as writer in 1975.
The man robbed the bank without gun.

If it is all right, then, is there any rule I should follow?

[Harry Smith]

Originally Posted by engee30

Is it correct to say or write like this (without the article 'a'):

He started his career as writer in 1975.
The man robbed the bank without gun.

If it is all right, then, is there any rule I should follow?

No, you should use "a" before them. (as a writer, without a gun.)

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by engee30

If it is all right, then, is there any rule I should follow?

Yeees. In English, count nouns generally require an article/determiner.

[engee30]

Well, I can't say I do agree with you both since I've found some sentences with such use. Cf.

...then a university student for five semesters in Kiel, Leipzig and Berlin. He never earned a degree, but an allowance from his mother gave him the financial independence to devote himself to a career as writer. His first publication followed a visit to Scotland in August and September of 1885, when he called on relatives and visited Edinburgh and the Western Isles. The result, Die Kinder des Hochlands (Children of the Highlands)...
And thus will I freely sing. Edinburgh: Polygon Books, 1989

...a small group of older children. At the end of each morning, teacher and students meet together to assess what has occurred, and plan future sessions. The second term concentrates upon the child as writer. It, again, entails college work, and school work, with the group of children which the students joined in the first term. One priority is to introduce students to the notion of the "development" of...
National Congress on Languages in Education materials. Brighton: National Congress on Languages in Education, 1988

...Cowley agreed, glancing back at his own car, which was now slowly descending on the ramp. "Keep it under observation. Or bring it in" Cowley said, without pause, "Observation. It's worth a few days observation." Bodie folded the paper. "Anything from Doyle?" "A wall of silence. He thinks that something is known, but they're not telling...
The professionals: volume 15. Bulmer, Kenneth. Wallington, Surrey: Severn House, 1983

...on everything that had happened. "So all's well that ends well, to quote Shakespeare," she said cheerfully when Luce had finished. "What will you be doing now?" Without pause, she answered her own question. "I suppose staying on to finish organising the exhibition, among other things." She sighed happily, then went on, "We seem to have a prospective buyer and Liz is...
Joy bringer. Wilkinson, Lee. Richmond, Surrey: Mills & Boon, 1992

Actually, I've found far more examples. So I don't know what to think about them. They're all taken from the British Corpus.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by engee30

Well, I can't say I do agree with you both since I've found some sentences with such use.

So, in other words, count nouns don't generally take an article and you shouldn't use "a" in the contexts provided in post #1?

Please be more specific.

Your findings are valid, but what exactly are you contributing here? Help the post, don't confuse the issue. Explain your findings.

[engee30]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Yeees. In English, count nouns generally require an article/determiner.

Originally Posted by Casiopea

So, in other words, count nouns don't generally take an article and you shouldn't use "a" in the contexts provided in post #1?

Of course they DO!

But, all I want to know is, why did the authors of the extracts I provided in my previous post use the countable nouns without an article?

Sorry for misunderstanding.

[Harry Smith]

Originally Posted by engee30

Of course they DO!

But, all I want to know is, why did the authors of the extracts I provided in my previous post used the countable nouns without an article?

Sorry for misunderstanding.

Because their English is poor. They haven't studied the article properly.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by Harry Smith

Because their English is poor. They haven't studied the article properly.

Not true. The phrases as writer and without pause are perfectly grammatical. The question now is, why?

Ex: ... they knew him as writer, teacher, strike-breaking administrator, or senator ...
Ex: ... their names as writer, director, producer and sometimes actor on their films.
Ex: ... people with clearly defined social roles, such as ‘writer,’ ‘poet,’ ‘psychologist ...

[Harry Smith]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Not true. The phrases as writer and without pause are perfectly grammatical. The question now is, why?

Ex: ... they knew him as writer, teacher, strike-breaking administrator, or senator ...
Ex: ... their names as writer, director, producer and sometimes actor on their films.
Ex: ... people with clearly defined social roles, such as ‘writer,’ ‘poet,’ ‘psychologist ...

I agree with you. I use articles by feeling and can't explain the rule. That's why I joked in my previous post. You did it better and thanks. You are our most hardworking moderator.

[engee30]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Not true. The phrases as writer and without pause are perfectly grammatical. The question now is, why?

There was a moment when I thought of something like 'discourse markers' (or 'connectives') to explain the matter to myself why the authors used the phrases the way they did, especially when it came to the phrase 'without pause'. To me, it really looks like a linking word between something that has been said, and something else that is going to be said later on.