[Hong Kong - April 10, 2017] During our time editing and proofreading English in Hong Kong, whether it be for students at university or for small businesses, we have come across many instances of incorrect use of the indefinite or definite articles. It might seem obvious to native English speakers how and when to use these seemingly innocuous words, but for people whose second language is English it’s not so easy. As such, we have put together some simple guidelines of when to use the articles as well as when not to use them.
Firstly, there are two types of article in English: indefinite and definite. The indefinite articles are ‘a’, ‘an’, and the definite article is ‘the’. It is important to remember if a word is 'countable' then you must always use an article.
When to use the indefinite articles ‘a’ and ‘an’
There are a number of instances when you must use one of the indefinite articles. These are:
- when you are referring to something for the first time,
- when you are determining the identity of someone or something unknown or unimportant,
- when you are clarifying what kind of person someone is or what type of thing and object is, and
- when used with an adjective to define something or someone as part of a group.
Whether you use ‘a’ or ‘an’ depends on the word that follows. If the next word begins with a consonant sound then you use ‘a’. For example, ‘a book’. If the next word begins with a vowel sound then you would use ‘an’. For example, ‘an apple’.
When to use the definite article ‘the’
You use the definite article ‘the’ when:
- the reader knows who or what you are talking about or can work it out easily,
- there is a specific thing or person being referred to,
- there is only one person or thing, or if it is clear which you mean,
- you have already mentioned the person or thing,
- referring to geographical locations or directions,
- you refer to something that is plural,
- referring to particular or specific buildings, and
- referring to countries that contain multiple areas or that are nouns.
When not to use an article
There are times when you do not use an article at all. These are:
- when you are talking about something in general,
- when referring to sports,
- when talking about the idea of a location (for example: ‘university is hard’), and
- before the names of any countries, regions, cities etc.,
English can be tough sometimes, and as editors in Hong Kong we understand this better than most. As such, we will always be on hand to edit and proofread your work.