Is this 'a' needed

[Danny McG]

Which ones works best?
(It's about a zombie virus)

1: "Spreading like wildfire"
2: "Spreading like a wildfire"

Thanks

 

[chrispenycate]

For me, definitely 1. Not that either of them is wrong, just that's the expected.

 

[ZlodeyVolk]

The first option works better for me, too. It evokes the concept of wildfire and hints at all the possibilities the concept entails. The second variation implies a specific instance of wildfire and feels more limited, for it.

 

[The Judge]

No 1, definitely, as it's the standard phrase.

 

[Vertigo]

Technically both are correct as 'wildfire' is defined as being both a countable noun and an uncountable noun. In this context the expression is, I suspect, referring to 'spreading like any wildfire' rather than 'spreading like just one wildfire' therefore the uncountable form seems more correct.

 

[tinkerdan]

Either way works:
The a is optional when referring to a singular wildfire.
You could always force the issue and make it
Spread like wildfires.
However for economy of word and best sounding:
Spreads like wildfire.
Is probably the best.

Unless you're writing poetic prose and need five syllables
Note: I changed the spreads in the plural example.

 

[Danny McG]

Thanks y'all
I'll go with option one - someone had read an opening chapter of mine and said (in their opinion) that I needed 'a' in it; I thought I'd get some views on the issue