Article Errors, part 2

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 200-206

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 8

In Eye on Editing 2, see page 28

Article Errors, part 3

Definite vs. Indefinite

A noun, when you see or hear it in a context, is definite or indefinite. Definite means a specific something that is known to both the speaker/writer and listener/reader. Indefinite means something that is not specific or unknown to the speaker/writer or listener/reader or both. For example, If I ask, “do you have any apples?” the word apples is indefinite.

This pair of concepts may be the most difficult part of the determiner system, primarily because what someone else knows or does not know is difficult to predict.

Rule: Do not use the with a noun that is indefinite—i.e., a noun that, not specific, or unknown, to the speaker/writer, the listener/reader, or both.

Incorrect: Cats like to drink the milk.

Incorrect: Can you please take out the trash?

Incorrect: In Iraq there is a lot of the oil.

Incorrect: Do you have the brothers and sisters?

Incorrect: Did you know that there are the tiny microorganisms that live on your skin?

Incorrect: Jacob would like to visit Germany because the beer is supposed to be good there.

Rule: Use the when the noun names something that is unique for all members of the English-speaking world. (This is called general cultural use.) Use the when the noun names something that is unique for all members of the local community, like your family, classmates, roommates, or town. (This is called local use.)

Incorrect: Why is sky blue?

Incorrect: Be careful when sunbathing because sun will burn you.

Incorrect: A werewolf is a man or woman who turns into a wolf when moon is full.

Incorrect: We have to take care of earth because it sustains us.

Incorrect: Who broke refrigerator?

Incorrect: Let’s go to UCEN for lunch.

Incorrect: Do you think teacher knows I was absent?

Incorrect: Susan invited Henry for a walk on beach.

Rule: Use the when the noun names something that is unique in the immediate situation. (This is called immediate situational use.) Use the when the noun names something that is unique in the listener/reader’s field of perception. (This is called perceptual situational use.)

Incorrect: Don’t go in there. Dog will bite you.

Incorrect: Pass me salt, please.

Incorrect: Who spat chewing gum on floor?

Incorrect: Wow! Goalie just threw ball into referee’s face!

Links:

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 203-205

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 10

In Eye on Editing 2, see pages 26-28

Article Errors, part 4

Null Article

Do not use an article before proper names.

Incorrect:	I went to the MacDonald’s.
Correct:	I went to (X) MacDonald’s.
Incorrect:	I talked to the Professor Lee.
Correct:	I talked to (X) Professor Lee.

Exceptions include the rule for proper nouns that are followed by a restrictive modifier. (Click on this link for info.)

Another exception is made for a special usage of a proper noun with a or the. (Click on this link for info.)

Links:

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 200-206

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 8-11

Rules Article Errors, part 5

Zero Article

The “zero article” denotes a noun that is (1) indefinite and (2) noncount or plural. Do not use a or an when the noun is plural or noncount.

Incorrect: (X) lion is not the kind of cat that makes a good pet.

Correct: A lion is not the kind of cat that makes a good pet. (Lion is singular.)

Incorrect: A cats are popular pets.

Correct: (X) cats are popular pets. (Cats is plural.)

Incorrect: Lions eat a meat.

Correct: Lions eat (X) meat. (Meat is noncount.)

If an indefinite noun is plural or noncount, you may also use the quantifier some. Use some when the speaker/writer has an approximate amount of stuff or number of things in mind. On the other hand, use no determiner when the intent is to define, classify, or characterize someone or something.

Correct: John and Bill are (X) teachers. (The intent is to classify, or characterize John and Bill.)

Correct: I need some stamps. (The speaker/writer has an approximate number of stamps in mind.)

Correct: Christmas and Independence Day are (X) legal holidays. (The intent is to classify, or characterize.)

Correct: Can we have some cookies? (The speaker/writer has an approximate number of cookies in mind.)

Correct: (X) penguins and emus are (X) flightless birds. (The intent is to define, classify, or characterize.)

Note: The same noun can be a count noun in one instance and a noncount noun in another. Note: Some noncount nouns can appear with a or an if the meaning is “a type of.”

Quiz:

(Write a or Ø according to the Rule.)

Einstein changed the way people think about space and ___________ time.
I can remember __________ time when only a few of my friends had cell phones.
Norm brought me ___________ glass of beer.
Be careful. I broke a window and there is ___________ glass on the floor.
The pilot of the plane ran out of ___________ fuel and had to land in a field.
Butane is ___________ fuel that is distilled from petroleum.

Links:

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 200-206

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 8-11

In Eye on Editing 2, see page 28

Article Errors, part 6

Errors with article and quantifier

Links:

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 200-206

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 7

In Eye on Editing 2, see pages 29-30

Article Errors, part 7

Wrong use of a, an, the, or zero article in a definition.

Links:

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 200-206

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 8-11

In Eye on Editing 2, see page 28

Article Errors, part 8

For first mention, use a, an, some, or Ø. For subsequent mention, use the.

For example, when telling a story, do not use the with nouns that name someone or something that is being mentioned for the first time (called first mention). Use the when the noun names someone or something that has been mentioned before (called subsequent mention).

Example 1:

There was once a crow who stole a wedge of cheese from a kitchen window. She flew off with the cheese to a nearby tree. the fox saw what the crow had done, and he walked over to the tree. “Oh, Mistress Crow, you have such Ø lovely black feathers, such Ø slender feet, such a beautiful yellow beak, and such Ø fine black eyes! You must have a beautiful voice. Would you please sing for me?” the crow felt very proud. She opened her beak and sang CAW-CAW-CAW. Of course the cheese fell down, and the fox snatched it up and ate every bite.

Example 2:

One night the fall of his freshman year, Tiger Woods was returning to his dormitory after attending a party. He parked his car in the lot outside Stern Hall at 11:10 and began walking toward the building when a man accosted him and held a knife to his throat. the man took a gold rope and Woods’s watch, then hit him in the jaw with the handle of the knife, knocking him to the ground.

Links:

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 200-206

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 8-11

In Eye on Editing 2, see page 28

Article Errors, part 9

Use an indefinite noun when you make a generalization.

A generalization is a statement that can be true about the entire class of things named by a noun. (People are strange is a generalization, but Martin is strange is not. The word people names an entire class, while Martin names a certain individual.)

In a generalization, three strategies are common:

Zero article plus a plural noun	Guitar strings are made of steel, nylon, or catgut.
Zero article plus a noncount noun	Guitar strings are made of steel, nylon, or catgut.
A or an plus a singular noun	A guitar string can be made from steel, nylon, or catgut.

Occasionally, the is used before a singular count noun in a generalization. This usage tends to be restricted to inventions, musical instruments, and animal species.

Correct:

The computer is ubiquitous on college campuses.

Correct:

The guitar can be played as a solo instrument or as part of a rhythm section.

Correct:

The cheetah has been clocked at speeds of over fifty miles per hour.

Links:

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 200-206

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 8-11

In Eye on Editing 2, see page 28

Article Errors, part 10

Wrong use of a, an, the, or zero article when a noun is followed by a restrictive modifier

A restrictive modifier is a phrase, usually starting with of, or a clause, usually starting with that, after a noun. Often two nouns are combined in a way that makes the first one definite, even when both of them are newly mentioned in a text, and either of them would be indefinite if used alone.

Separate:

Barry Lynn was an executive editor.

Barry Lynn worked for a magazine called Global Business.

Combined:

Barry Lynn was the executive editor of a magazine called Global Business.

Links:

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 200-206

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 8-11

In Eye on Editing 2, see page 28

Article Errors, part 11

Wrong use of a, an, the, or zero article with a possessive noun

Links:

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 200-206

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 8-11

In Eye on Editing 2, see page 28

Article Errors, part 12

Do not use the with most abstract nouns—for example, love, life, or beauty.

Incorrect: Many students choose to major in biology because they love the nature.

Correct: Many students choose to major in biology because they love (X) nature.

Incorrect: A university education helps prepare men and women to enter the society.

Correct: A university education helps prepare men and women to enter (X) society.

Correct: A few bio majors will enter careers dedicated to protecting the environment.

Links:

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 200-206

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 8-11

In Eye on Editing 2, see page 28

Article Errors, part 13

Use a or an to mean “for each” or “per.”

Examples:

A Honda Insight hybrid gets 66 miles to ___________ gallon.
Enron CEO Ken lay earned about 59 million dollars ___________ year.
In 1994, Colombian coffee growers were getting seventy cents _________ pound.
The price of gold sometimes goes as high as six hundred dollars ________ ounce.
The federal minimum wage for most employees is $5.15 ________ hour.

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Article Errors, part 14

Do not use the with certain other obligatory destinations like home, work, school, or church. (In Canadian and British English, this includes the expression in hospital.)

Examples:

(Delete the word the where it does not make sense according to the Rule.)

Incorrect: Jeremy didn’t receive your message because he was at the work when you called.

Correct: Jeremy didn’t receive your message because he was at (X) work when you called.

Incorrect: In boarding school, we had to go to the chapel every morning before breakfast.

Correct: In boarding school, we had to go to (X) chapel every morning before breakfast.

Correct: The chapel was badly burned in the fire.

Correct: Jenny took Biology credit / no credit because she didn’t want to go to (X) lab.

Correct: Francine spilled some chemical that caused a fire in the lab.

Article Errors, part 15

Superlatives

Use the when a noun is modified by a superlative adjective or other adjective that signifies uniqueness. Use the with superlative adjectives and adverbs (like most, least, best, fastest) and in the expression the same.

Incorrect: Defenselessness might be (X) longest English word whose vowels are all the same.

Correct: Defenselessness might be the longest English word whose vowels are all the same.

Incorrect: The Coca-Cola Co. made AlterNet.org’s list of (X) 14 worst corporate evildoers.

Correct: The Coca-Cola Co. made AlterNet.org’s list of the 14 worst corporate evildoers.

Incorrect: Ecuador is (X) only equatorial country where the temperature can reach zero.

Correct: Ecuador is the only equatorial country where the temperature can reach zero.

Incorrect: Farm work is among (X) top ten most dangerous jobs in America.

Correct: Farm work is among the top ten most dangerous jobs in America.

Note: Do not use any article when most is a quantifier. Do not use any article before adverbials like most of all and least of all.

Incorrect: Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so the most people don’t recognize them.

Correct: Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so (X) most people don’t recognize them. [1]

Incorrect: JavaScript is a powerful and versatile scripting language designed exclusively for the World Wide Web. You can use it to transform lackluster Web pages into dynamic, fully interactive pages with real-time response. The best of all, JavaScript is easy to use.

Correct: JavaScript is a powerful and versatile scripting language designed exclusively for the World Wide Web. You can use it to transform lackluster Web pages into dynamic, fully interactive pages with real-time response. (X) best of all, JavaScript is easy to use. [2]

Incorrect: Morality is (X) best of all devices for leading mankind by the nose.

Correct: Morality is the best of all devices for leading mankind by the nose. [3]

Note: The adjectives next and last are usually superlative, but are correctly used without the in expressions of time like next week, next Monday, next Halloween and last night, last Monday, and last Halloween. Do not say next day, next night,, or last day when you mean tomorrow, tomorrow night, or yesterday.

Incorrect: Colorado illegally purged several thousand names from voter rolls in (X) last election.

Correct: Colorado illegally purged several thousand names from voter rolls in the last election.

Incorrect: For $44 you can Fedex an envelope to Afghanistan and get it there (X) next day.

Correct: For $44 you can Fedex an envelope to Afghanistan and get it there the next day.

1. In a world marked by unacceptable health inequalities, we will emphasize those programs that benefit some poorest and most vulnerable communities. [4]

2. Violence is a last refuge of the incompetent. [5]

Article Errors, part 16

Use the when a noun is known or implied because it is a part of some previously mentioned whole. If, say, a typical sandwich comes with mayo, then mayo is implied.

Examples:

(Revise phrases so that they use the if it makes sense according to the Rule.)

_the

I can’t eat this sandwich because ~~it has some~~ mayonnaise ~~that~~ is too spicy.
My father sold his car because there was a radio that didn’t work.
Some strings on Geraldo’s guitar were so old that he couldn’t tune it.
Paula went out to her bicycle today only to find that its two tires were flat.

Article Errors, part 17

Don’t use the with a noun if the noun is part of someone’s body, or a piece of clothing or jewelry that someone is wearing, or that someone only owns one of, like eyeglasses. Instead of the use a possessive determiner—such as my, your, his, her, our, or their.

Examples:

(Revise phrases so that they use a possessive if it makes sense according to the Rule. One of these sentences is already correct.)

Dentists recommend that you get the teeth cleaned every six months.
The two lovers looked into the eyes with each other.
State law requires restaurant employees to wash hands before leaving the toilet.
When I arrived at Jane’s house, she was ironing a blouse.
We were delayed because Doctor Lee’s wife could not find a purse she had lost.

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Article Errors, part 18

Do use the with clothing or a body part that has been touched by an outside object.

Examples:

(Add the where it makes sense according to the Rule. Otherwise, add a possessive.)

1. You can’t sue a New Jersey ballpark if you are hit in _______ eye with a ball

2. I touched him on ________ arm and asked if he was all right.

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Article Errors, part 19

Do not use the with the names of languages or religions that have not been made definite. Do use the when the word “language” or “religion” (or some similar noun) is used immediately after the adjective.

Incorrect: The Spanish is spoken by over 322 million people worldwide.

Correct: (X) Spanish is spoken by over 322 million people worldwide.

Correct: The Aragonese dialect of Spanish is different from the Aragonese language, according to Ethnologue.

Correct: The Spanish spoken in Spain is different from South American Spanish.

Incorrect: Many groups practice the Catholicism although they have broken with the Pope.

Correct: Many groups practice (X) Catholicism although they have broken with the Pope.

Correct: Several books give conflicting instructions in how to practice the Catholic faith.

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Article Errors, part 20

Use the with abstract adjectives that describe a class of people. (This usage is frequently seen to express the plural of nationalities that have no other plural form.)

Examples:

(Add the word the where it makes sense according to the Rule. Otherwise, write Ø.)

Charities are groups that help ________ poor when the government cannot.
Cochlear implants are electronic devices that help ________ deaf to hear again.
_______ British, unlike ________ French, are not known for their delicious food.
_______ Americans often come across to foreign visitors as shallow or insincere.
No other nationality knows how to take a hot bath better than ________ Japanese.

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Article Errors, part 21

Unlike superlative adjectives and the nouns that they modify, comparative adjectives, like more, less, fewer, better, worse, and faster, are not automatically definite. Do use the, however, when comparing two known, unique things, as in I’ll have the bigger of the two cookies. Also use the in double comparative sentences, as in the more I study Linguistics, the more I love it.

Incorrect: As campus housing goes more upscale, more students are sleeping in the bigger beds.

Correct: As campus housing goes more upscale, more students are sleeping in (X) bigger beds.

Correct: The dorm with the longest waiting list at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff is a 3-year-old apartment complex that boasts full-size beds.

Correct: The larger sizes reflect a growing demand for more and better amenities, housing officials say.

Correct: Like other schools, the University offers (X) bigger beds only to juniors and seniors.

Also OK: Like other schools, the University offers the bigger beds only to juniors and seniors. [6]

Article Errors, part 22

Use the with ordinal numbers (the first, the second, etc.) and with ranking expressions (the next, the last). Do not use the with ordinal numbers when referring to names of prizes (first prize, second place). Do not use the with next or last when referring to specific times (next month, last year) as adverbial expressions.

Article Errors, part 23

Do not use the when referring to letters or numbers in a list, or with divisions in a text (chapter, page, section).

Exercise: Following Rules Twenty and Twenty-One, delete the from the underlined portions if it is incorrect.

1. I forgot to read the first chapter of the book.

2. My teacher recommended that we don’t read the Chapter 12.

3. Unfortunately, I already read it the last night.

4. My friend said he didn’t understand the last twenty pages.

5. What answer did you get for the number 12 on the page 20?

6. Tonight is the last night to get tickets at the special low price.

Article Errors, part 24

Use the with names of colleges or universities that contain the word of (like the University of California). Do not use an article with the abbreviated names of colleges or universities (like UCSB). Do not use an article with college or university names that do not contain of.

Exercise: Following Rule Twenty-Two, delete the if it is incorrect.

My brother goes to the U of M.
My sister went to the UCLA.
My cousin graduated from the Stanford University.
My uncle works at the City University of New York, also known as the CUNY.
My boyfriend attends the Santa Barbara City College.

Article Errors, part 25

Do not use an article with the names of streets or roads. But use the with numbered highways (like the 101).

Correct: To get to Zodo’s, go out (X) El Colegio Road, and turn right at (X)Los Carneros. Cross the 101 freeway and turn right again at (X) Calle Real.

Article Errors, part 26

Do not use an article with the names of countries, counties, states, or cities. But use the with country names that contain the words united, union, kingdom, or republic).

Article Errors, part 27

Use the with the names of rivers, oceans, seas, mountain ranges, groups of islands, and deserts. Do not use an article for the names of single lakes, mountains, islands, or canyons. But be aware of exceptions, like The Grand Canyon or The Rio Grande.

Correct: At the party last night, I met a student from the Philippines, two women from (X) Denmark, a married couple from the Faeroese Islands, a family from the U.S., and a group of visiting researchers from the R.O.C.

Correct: Over spring break, my friends and I plan to go to the Sierra Nevada, then to (X) Death Valley, and after that to (X) Hawaii, which is in the middle of the Pacific.

Article Errors, part 28

Use the with the names of hotels, motels, theaters, bridges, buildings, zoos, gardens, museums, institutes, and companies. But do not use an article with the names of stadiums, malls, parks, hospitals or halls.

Exercise: Following Rule Twenty-Six, delete the if it is incorrect.

1. During our class trip, all the men stayed at the Motel Six, while all the women got to stay at the Best Western.

2. We went to San Francisco and saw the Golden Gate Bridge, the Golden Gate Park, and the Trans-America Tower.

3. When I visit Hollywood, I intend to see the Universal Studios, the Mann’s Chinese Theater, the Walk of Fame, and of course, the Hollywood Sign.

4. Our class is in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building. The instructor’s office in the South Hall.

Article Errors, part 29

Use the when generalizing about an entire class, e.g. of musical instruments or animals, or about an invention. But use a, an, or the if the sentence can refer to either the general class or any one member of the class.

Correct:

The computer is ubiquitous on college campuses.

Correct:

The guitar can be played as a solo instrument or as part of a rhythm section.

Correct:

The cheetah has been clocked at speeds of over fifty miles per hour.

Article Errors, part 30

Use a with the words few or little if there is a positive meaning. Do not use an article if the quantifying word has a negative meaning. But use a with few or little after words like only or just.

Exercise: Choose the correct form in parentheses.

1. Many people use a computer to keep track of their financial health. But (few, a few) people realize they can also use it to track their nutritional health.[7]

2. Deciding on a content management system (CMS) to help your organization streamline business processes and aid in compliance efforts can be a mind-boggling job. Here are (few, a few) tips from the experts that may help. [8]

3. For those of you that are regular attendees … there is (little, a little) difference in this morning’s meeting, in that unlike other council meetings, this meeting is on the record … and the meeting is being teleconferenced to council members around the nation and the world. [9]

4. Mr. Raskin became an outspoken critic of all desktop operating systems, including Apple’s, arguing that they all for the most part resemble what they did 20 years ago and that there’s “(little, a little) difference between using a Mac and Windows.” [10]

Article Errors, part 31

Use the with plural names. Use the with family names followed by a noun.

Article Errors, part 32

Do not use an article with the name of an individual person. But use the with a personal name if referring to a definite period in that person’s life. Use a or an with a personal name to refer to an imaginary or indefinite period in that person’s life. Use a or an with a personal name to mean any undefined person who has the qualities implied for which the named person is known.

Article Errors, part 33

Use the in double comparative sentences, as in the more I study Linguistics, the more I love it.

Determiner Problems, part 1

Determiners include articles and possessive adjectives like this or his that can appear instead of an article.

Links:

Determiner Problems, part 2

Determiner Needed

Determiners include articles like a and the, demonstrative adjectives like this and these, quantifiers like some and many, and possessive adjectives like this or his that can appear instead of an article.

Incorrect:	They behaved stupidly and ruined environment by doing obviously dumb things, like cutting down their forests, watching their topsoil erode, and building cities in dry areas likely to run short of water.
Correct:	They behaved stupidly and ruined their own environment by doing obviously dumb things, like cutting down their forests, watching their topsoil erode, and building cities in dry areas likely to run short of water. [11]

Links:

Determiners

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 202-203

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 162

In Eye in Editing 2, see pages 24-32

Determiner Problems, part 3

Wrong Determiner

Incorrect:	They behaved stupidly and ruined an environment by doing obviously dumb things, like cutting down their forests, watching their topsoil erode, and building cities in dry areas likely to run short of water.
Correct:	They behaved stupidly and ruined their own environment by doing obviously dumb things, like cutting down their forests, watching their topsoil erode, and building cities in dry areas likely to run short of water. [12]

Links:

Determiners

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 202-203

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 162

In Eye in Editing 2, see pages 24-32

Determiner Problems, part 4

Double determiner

Determiners include articles like a and the, demonstrative adjectives like this and these, quantifiers like some and many, and possessive adjectives like this or his that can appear instead of an article.

In English, only one determiner can be used to modify a noun phrase.

Incorrect:	Diversity allows a system to “sponsor its own fertility,” to use the Wes Jackson’s words. (article + possessive determiner = incorrect double determiner)
Correct:	Diversity allows a system to “sponsor its own fertility,” to use the words of Wes Jackson. (“the words” = one determiner + noun)
Correct:	Diversity allows a system to “sponsor its own fertility,” to use Wes Jackson’s words. (one possessive determiner + noun) [13]

Links:

Determiners

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 202-203

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 162

In Eye in Editing 2, see pages 24-32

Quantifier Problems, part 1

Links:

Usage of quantifiers

Quantifier Problems, part 2

Preposition error after a quantifier

Use:	Quantifier + of + definite noun
Use:	Quantifier + indefinite noun (without of)
Don’t use:	Quantifier + of + indefinite noun
Don’t use:	Quantifier + definite noun (without of)

Examples:

Correct:	Many of his friends A few of the cookies
Correct:	Many people A few cookies
Incorrect:	Many of people A few of cookies
Incorrect:	Some the books A few his friends

Exceptions:

A lot of + definite noun

Links:

Usage of quantifiers

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 162

In Eye on Editing 2, see page 29

Quantifier Problems, part 3

Article error with a quantifier

Do not use any article when most is a quantifier. Do not use any article before adverbials like most of all and least of all.

Incorrect: Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so the most people don’t recognize them.

Correct: Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so (X) most people don’t recognize them. [14]

Incorrect: Morality is (X) best of all devices for leading mankind by the nose.

Correct: Morality is the best of all devices for leading mankind by the nose. [16]

Links:

Usage of quantifiers