Search results for 'tag:Definite articles tag:Abbreviations' matching tags 'Definite articles' and 'Abbreviations'

Re: Worth...

Blink — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:41:52 GMT

Mister Micawber, I've got two more question to you.

Which one of these two construction (is worth attention/is worthy of attention) is more frequently used?

Do we use the indefinite article before the abbreviation like (an) MBA essay or (a) GCSE coursework?

Many thanks.

Re: ABBREVIATIONS AND ARTICLES

Mr Wordy — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:40:01 GMT

In cases like this, the definite article is required when the name is written out in full, but it is in my view acceptable to omit it before the abbreviation. So, yes, I think it's fine to write:

The Korean National Tourism Organization (KNTO) ...

And thereafter, for example,

KNTO operates tourist information centers.

"The KNTO" seems OK too, but you should be consistent. You shouldn't mix "the KNTO" and "KNTO".

However, with some well-known acronyms and abbreviations, conventions apply. For example, "the NATO" is wrong, even though in full it would be "The North Atlantic Treaty Organization". On the other hand, "The United Nations" always keeps the article even when abbreviated: "the UN". Without having studied this, I don't know if there's any logic here, or whether the conventions are just arbitrary and have to be learnt individually.

ABBREVIATIONS AND ARTICLES

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:33:22 GMT

Hi,

Is it common or correct to use the definite article before what looks to be the abbreviation of a govenment organization at one time and don't use it at another time? I think for some government or non-government names, the definite article is put in consideration of a main noun/word.

I don't know this particular Korean organization exits currently or not.

The Korean National Tourism Organization ... KNTO operates tourist information centers.

Re: ufo

Conchita57 — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:38:09 GMT

Numbers 1 and 3 are correct.

Note that the abbreviation 'UFO' starts with a consonant sound:

[].

If you say 'unidentified flying object', though, the indefinite article is 'an':

[].

Re: how would you write it?

Feebs11 — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 11:43:42 GMT

Believer wrote:
I have a sentence I think I saw written somewhere. How would you rewrite it so it is correct? I think it is incorrect.

Our company has a children's center for our employees [who are] in need of child care.    I can't see a problem with this sentence otherwise. The indefinite article is fine in this context

I think when you have a name in the genitive, normally the article refers to the noun that immediately follows it.

I have a student who has graduated from a CET's course.

Here, let us assume CET stands for (the??) Certified Electrical Technician and for the above sentence, a modifies the abbreviation 'CET', doesn't it?     No - it relates to "course"; CET is merely used adjectively to identify the course. The course is unspecified apart from being a CET course, therefore "a" is correct. If the course was specifiied as a particular course in a particular institution, then "the" would be required. "....the CET course at *** College."

Do you have any suggestions that will help me to decide correctly whether there a need to put the underlined article there?

Re: Definite articles needed in these sentences?

davkett — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 14:40:50 GMT

If 'the' is part of the name, it is capitalized; but I'm not convinced that most newspapers have 'the' as part of their name.

In naming the organization 'Korean-American Scientists Association', the acronym would be KASA. With 'The' in the name, I suppose it would have to be an unpronounceable TKASA.

I think, in speaking, it sounds more natural to say 'the' before any named organization that doesn't have 'the' in the official name. The implication in saying the is 'the organization called' [KASA].

As for 'the United States of America', we always see the abbreviation-- 'the USA' (not 'The USA').

Re: An versus a

wumanfu — Thu, 09 Oct 2003 17:16:26 GMT

Hi, you asked
Which is the correct usage please:
" I have ordered a / an MRI (magnetic resonance scan) and will review the patient following this."

Rule: With single letters and groups of letters that are pronounced as individual letters, be guided by the pronunciation: a B road, a TUC leader; but an A road, an FA Cup match, an SAS unit (assuming the abbreviations are not mentally expanded to their full forms, which would alter the "

Answer
I have ordered an MRIâ¦

Reference
"a" Pocket Fowler's Modern English Usage

a, an, called the indefinite article (or, by some grammarians, determiner). In origin, a and its by-form an are versions of the Old English an meaning
âoneâ. (1) Before all normal words or diphthongs an is required (an actor, an eagle, an illness, an Old Master, an uncle). Before a syllable beginning
in its written form with a vowel but pronounced with a consonantal sound, a is used (a eulogy, a unit, a use; a one, a once-only). Before all consonants
except silent h, a is usual: a book, a history, a home, a household name, a memorial service, a puddle, a young man; but, with silent h, an hour, an honour.
â¦
With single letters and groups of letters that are pronounced as individual letters, be guided by the pronunciation: a B
road, a TUC leader; but an A road, an FA Cup match, an SAS unit (assuming the abbreviations are not mentally expanded to their full forms, which would
alter the