Hi, Alexander!  Recently you wrote in a message to All:   
      
    AK>  -----Beginning of the citation-----   
    AK>  Miss Champagne was dressed in an extraordinary mermaid outfit.   
    AK>  It was green and silver with velvety sea flowers dangling   
    AK>  from it. It had small teardrop shapes of net all over it, a   
    AK>  halter neck, a very low front, and a circular gap at stomach   
    AK>  level revealing Suky's emerald studded belly button.   
    AK>  ----- The end of the citation -----   
      
    AK>  Is there a rule, or consideration why we omit an article or   
    AK>  pronoun before "stomach level"?   
      
      
              I don't know of a rule, but I see a pattern:   
      
                        at eye level   
                        at waist level or waist height   
                        at ceiling height   
      
   These are rough approximations which we use when we don't know & probably don't   
    need to know the exact measurements.   
      
      
              People come in different shapes & sizes... as do rooms in a building   
   ... but if I say e.g. that I keep certain items at eye level, you'll understand   
    I'm referring to the eye level of the person(s) most likely to remove them   
   from the shelf &/or put them away.  It may vary according to the height of the   
   shelf & the number of people involved.  The term "stomach" is ambiguous because   
    it is often used to refer to the abdominal area in general.  The author   
   clarified it, however, by saying the audience could locate Suky's belly   
   button... i.e. navel. The length of her legs etc. may best be left to the   
   reader's imagination.  :-))   
      
      
      
      
   --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)