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MUSCOVITE Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

a difficult piece of grammar

Hi,

"For the use of (smth), see next paragraph"

I just check with COCA and found out that both

(A)
See next paragraph/page/section, etc
See previous paragraph/page/section, etc

and

(B)
See the next paragraph/page/section, etc
See the previous paragraph/page/section, etc


are often used in modern English.


So it is up to the writer to use or not use the definite article before 'next/previous' in similar contexts?


Since my grammar books says nothing about this specific "grammar rule" (=optional use of 'the' before "next/previous" in some contexts), I need your help again.


Looking forward to your comments...


mus-te
  

Top answer

The use of 'the' makes the prose more literary and more stylish. Clive

— Clive

  • The use of 'the' makes the prose more literary and more stylish.
  • Clive
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4 Answers
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The use of 'the' makes the prose more literary and more stylish.

Clive
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...and far more complicated to us poor learners :-)
Thank you, Clive! Emotion: shake hands
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MUSCOVITESee next paragraph/page/section, etc
This kind of zero article is common in book references, for example.
CliveThe use of 'the' makes the prose more literary and more stylish.
I don’t sense this. How exactly does it do that?
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I'd expect to find eg See next paragraph in eg an instruction manual or a scientific paper..

I wouldn't expect to see it in eg a university essay.
(Nor would I expect the imperative 'See'.)


Clive
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