[English Q&A] Experience as a Countable and Uncountable Noun

"Experience" or "experiences"? What is the difference?

Experience can be used as both a countable and uncountable noun depending on the context.

Experience as an uncountable noun

• knowledge and skill that is gained through time spent doing a job or activity.

(Eg. We’re looking for someone with experience as a teacher.)

• the knowledge that you get from life and from being in a lot of different situations.

(Eg. Experience told me not to believe him.)

Experience as a countable noun

• something that happens to you, or a situation that you are involved in

(Eg. our childhood experiences)

(Eg. an opportunity for people to share their experiences of living with the disease)

Take note: If you are talking about your total experience (in something) as an accumulation of one thing, experience is grammatically an uncountable (noncount) noun.

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