The difference between “to get hold of” and “to get a hold of” is mainly regional and stylistic, but they can sometimes have slightly different nuances depending on the context. 1. “Get hold of” (More Common in British English) This phrase is used in both British and American English, but it’s more common in British English. It typically means: • To contact or reach someone • I tried to get hold of you yesterday, but your phone was off. • To obtain or acquire something • Can you get hold of those tickets for me? • To physically grasp something (less common in this sense) • She managed to get hold of the rope just in time. 2. “Get a hold of” (More Common in American English) This is more common in American English and is often used in the same way as “get hold of.” However, it is slightly more likely to be used when referring to physically grasping something or gaining control rather than just contacting someone. • To physically grab something • He got a hold of the ball and ran toward the goal. • To gain control over something (especially emotions or a situation) • You need to get a hold of yourself before the meeting! • To contact someone (interchangeable with “get hold of”) • I finally got a hold of my doctor this morning.

(a) optional, but places more emphasis............ in rapid speech, people may colloquially omit (a).

Very similar, to be honest! Get hold of: to hold something (simple statement). I would say this is more ‘pure English’ and correct 😉 Get a hold of: this is more of a US-way of speaking, but nowadays it is used in a more slang/ informal way that has been adopted around the world. It can also be used as an expression to tell someone to control themselves: “get a hold of yourself!” - calm down!