I was reading a grammar book the other day, it was mentioned to omit articles "before names of substances and abstract nouns (i.e uncountable nouns)."
The nouns splurge and howler are abstract nouns I believe. However in the following sentences we have to use articles before the above mentioned nouns in order to convey the actual meaning.
Spending 1.5 Lakhs on a computer is a splurge.
How did he fail to score from that position? That was a howler!
Are the given nouns abstract nouns in the first place? If yes then what is the rule for using articles before them ?