Why does “a” have to be excluded from a sentence?
I get what the author wants to say in the following sentence, but can’t understand the use of “a” This is despite a multitude
of high-tech note-taking tools, the classic pen and paper still holds a special place in many a note-taker’s heart.
Why we say “Many of a notetaker’s heart”? Most
note taker’s heart sounds true.
How do I read a note taker’s heart and hear it?
Until now, most note-takers’ hearts
are in many a. The construction
many a is possibly
a bit archaic and certainly a bit poetic, and it does essentially mean the same as many – with the difference that you use the singular in the first case, the plural in the second case. The first case is of great complexity and the second case is of small complexity.
The construction draws extra attention to each individual member of the group that is mentioned.
I worried about her well being long hours for her well-being.
I worried for her well-being many a long hour she was alone.
The first one is quite factual, the second one indicates that every single separate hour counts – it gives much more emphasis on the duration by pointing at the duration of every single hour.
In your sentence, the writer uses this construction to emphasize that for many note-takers, there is a really personal sentiment about pen and paper.
