He is a poet and (a) musician.

[Vladv1]

Is it true that when a person has two professions/talents/hobbies, we should omit the second article, for example; He is a poet and (a) musician. What about three hobbies/talents? Should it be "He is a poet, musician and sculptor?"

 

[emsr2d2]

The additional articles are optional. They're not necessary but we can't say that we "should" omit them. I find it much neater with just the initial article.

 

[Annabel Lee]

Is it true that when a person has two professions/talents/hobbies, we should omit the second article, for example; He is a poet and (a) musician. What about three hobbies/talents? Should it be "He is a poet, musician and sculptor?"

If a different form of the indefinite article is needed for the second profession/talent/hobby, careful writers don't omit it:

*? He is a poet and oboist.​

He is a poet and an oboist.​

​

The red sentence is bad because we wouldn't say "He is a oboist."

 

[Vladv1]

If a different form of the indefinite article is needed for the second profession/talent/hobby, careful writers don't omit it:

*? He is a poet and oboist.​

He is a poet and an oboist.​

​

The red sentence is bad because we wouldn't say "He is a oboist."

Are there cases when one form is with "a" and the other with "the"? Please provide the examples.

 

[emsr2d2]

Are there cases when one form is with "a" and the other with "the"? Please provide the examples.

He is a director and the CEO.
In the local orchestra, she's a flautist and the conductor.
I'm a tennis player and the treasurer of our local tennis club.