"an" or "the" external note

Question

Hi, in our lab we have many files and every file can have "external notes". This is for any notes to be seen by the lab participants. Let's say I leave one external note for one file I am working on. There's only one external note and it's mine. I tell another lab participant:

"You will find the results in AN/THE external note"

Either article can be used in this situation, right? Even if there's only one.

"An external note" just describes the place where I left the results (I am assuming that my colleague hasn't seen the file yet, so he doesn't know there's only one note).

"The external note" suggests that there's only one (the one there).

I think..

Clive · Accepted Answer

<p>RIght</p>

Anonymous · Answer

Actually, the article "an" is suggesting that you have written more than one external note for that particular file. ("An" external note among the many that you have written for that file, but you've only written one note for that file.)

There's many external notes in your lab; however, not all of them are authored by you. So for clarity, it's better to say "the" external note because there is only one for the specific file that you are referring to.

"an" or "the" external note

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions