[Grammar] a noticeable effect or noticeable effects?

[MohammadKatebi]

which one is better, considering it in a scientific paper:

Definitely, surface topography has a noticeable effect on seismic ground motion.

Definitely, surface topography has noticeable effects on seismic ground motion.

we know that topography scatters seismic waves, as a result, amplifications or de-amplifications occur.

 

[khanhhung2512]

Definitely, surface topography has noticeable effects on seismic ground motion.

NOT A TEACHER
Could you list some of these noticeable effects?

 

[emsr2d2]

Which one is better, considering it will be/is in a scientific paper?

Definitely, surface topography has a noticeable effect on seismic ground motion.

Definitely, surface topography has noticeable effects on seismic ground motion.

We know that topography scatters seismic waves and that, as a result, amplification[strike]s[/strike] or de-amplification[strike]s[/strike] occur.

Please see my corrections above. Remember to start every sentence with a capital letter. Whether "a noticeable effect" or "noticeable effects" is correct depends on whether there is just one effect or more than one.

 

[khanhhung2512]

Please see my corrections above. Remember to start every sentence with a capital letter. Whether "a noticeable effect" or "noticeable effects" is correct depends on whether there is just one effect or more than one.

NOT A TEACHER
"Effect" can also be uncountable. http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/effect_1
Do you think using a noncount "effect" here would be a good idea?

 

[emsr2d2]

If you are suggesting that "... has noticeable effect on ..." could be used, then no.

 

[khanhhung2512]

NOT A TEACHER
Then I guess 'effect' can only act as a noncount noun when the effect is unimportant, small, or perhaps not at all.
Am I wrong?

 

[emsr2d2]

I don't agree. It's used in an uncountable way in phrases like "cause and effect". It can also be used that way in "Your talk had little effect on me". Conversely, "Your talk had great effect".

 

[khanhhung2512]

NOT A TEACHER
Then could you explain why 'effect' cannot be used in the OP's sentence please?

 

[emsr2d2]

Because the OP is clearly talking about a specific number of effects. We simply don't know (yet) if there is just one effect or a whole list of them.

 

[khanhhung2512]

NOT A TEACHER
Oh, sorry. I stated my question incorrectly. What I meant was:
Could you explain why 'effect' cannot be used as an uncountable noun in the OP's sentence please?

 

[emsr2d2]

That's the question I answered.

 

[khanhhung2512]

NOT A TEACHER
Does that mean once I used 'effect' as noncount, I wouldn't be able to list the effects afterwards.

 

[emsr2d2]

Why don't you write the full sentence you are proposing, using uncountable "effect" without losing any of the meaning of the original post? After that, I'll be able to try to answer that question.

 

[khanhhung2512]

NOT A TEACHER
The sentence I mean is: "Definitely, surface topography has noticeable effect on seismic ground motion."
After that, I'll list the effect(s) one by one.
Is that OK?

 

[Rover_KE]

Say '...noticeable effects' if you intend to list them.