the?

English translation: Either way is fine

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	use of the
Selected answer:	Either way is fine
Entered by:	Kim Metzger

13:56 Aug 26, 2002

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary / use of "the" in titles

English term or phrase: the?

I'm translating a description for a new washing machine. The sections are currently called "The Drum", "The Porthole", "The Controls", "The Washing", "The Project", etc.

However, I've been told that the "The" in every title doesn't look good, and it would be better if we could just keep it as "Drum", "Porthole", "Washing", "Project"... but, somehow, this doesn't really sound right to me. :( Please advise whether it would look/sound English to you if I ommited the "the's" in such titles? -- "Controls" sound fine to me without "the", but "Porthole" or "Project" don't. :(

zmejka KudoZ activity Questions: 1643 (1 open) (17 closed without grading) Answers: 416
Local time: 09:36

Either way is fine

Explanation:
Although I'd want to see the whole text to make a firm decision, on the face of it, it seems that your headings could be written either with or without the definite article.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-08-26 14:19:14 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

On second thought, if I were writing the headings, I\'d leave out the definite articles.

Selected response from:

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 00:36

Grading comment

Thank you for your help. And thank you all for your opinions! :))
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

5 +6

Omitt definite article

Rasmus

4 +3

Either way is fine

Kim Metzger

5 +1

Instinct (and propriety) versus common contemporary practice

Fuad Yahya

The

Claudia Andreani

When in doubt...

Marion Burns

As I sense it...

Arthur Borges

Discussion entries: 3

Answers

10 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

Either way is fine

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 00:36
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 2249

Grading comment

Thank you for your help. And thank you all for your opinions! :))

20 mins confidence:

The

Explanation:
I would use "The" as part of the whole section. I would even add the word "section" at the end, like "The Drum Section (or Part)"
If you are talking about a tangible part, I would take out the "The", and I would live it if the section talks about a process, like "The Washing".

How is that?

Claudia Andreani
Local time: 02:36
Native speaker of: Spanish

34 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

Omitt definite article

Explanation:
It's a recommendation, not a rule, to omit the definite article in a situation as you described.

As an example we can look a Microsoft's Windows(tm). The control panel is not referred to as "THE control panel", but rather "Control panel". I know it's not the best example ever, but it was the first one I could find ;)

Rasmus
Local time: 08:36

48 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

Instinct (and propriety) versus common contemporary practice

Explanation:
My instinct, which is not infallible, is to use the definite article. However, the contrary practice is pretty common. The following page is an example:

http://www.repairclinic.com/0088_11_3.asp

I am sorry to say that in similar material, I have found the omission too common to ignore. It would be too easy to dismiss it as non-normative writing by mechanical engineers compelled to put on a writer's hat. The truth is probably a bit more complicated than that. All contemorary English-language writing that is not literary in nature and does not presume to accomplish anything other than convey dry information is plagued with a severe economy that turns language into a mere code rather than as a human expression.

Should you be swept into this current? I would not be -- but that is my instinct.

Fuad

Fuad Yahya
Native speaker of:

Arabic,

English
PRO pts in pair: 893

2 hrs confidence:

When in doubt...

Explanation:
leave 'em out!

English often favors leaving out articles, especially in the concise, minimalist style used in this type of writing.

Marion Burns
United States
Local time: 02:36
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 18

3 hrs confidence:

As I sense it...

Explanation:
...either way is indeed fine: Americans would sooner skip it while Brits wouldn't.
If your boss likes it without, then it's bit like being the art of being a good husband: your wife is right even when she's wrong.

Arthur Borges
China
Local time: 14:36
PRO pts in pair: 23

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