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Uktous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

An / the accounting career.

Hi,

Someone suggests that "in the accounting career" is incorrect, and "in an accounting career" is correct.
I don't understand. I am now talking about "the" career that I prefer, but not "a" career randomly.

Why sentence 1 is correct, and sentence 2 is incorrect?


Sentence1:

Since I have a good academic background in accounting, I should be successfully in an accounting career.
Sentence2:
Since I have a good academic background in accounting, I should be successfully in the accounting career.

Thanks
  

Top answer

Hi, Very broadly speaking, say 'the' only if the reader already knows what you are talking about. In your example, you haven't first told us that you are talking about the career you prefer. Consider these simpler examples.

— Clive

  • Hi, Very broadly speaking, say 'the' only if the reader already knows what you are talking about.
  • In your example, you haven't first told us that you are talking about the career you prefer.
  • Consider these simpler examples.
  • 1.
  • You walk into a room and say 'I bought a car'.
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5 Answers
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Hi,

Very broadly speaking, say 'the' only if the reader already knows what you are talking about.

In your example, you haven't first told us that you are talking about the career you prefer.

Consider these simpler examples.

1. You walk into a room and say 'I bought a car'. We understand what you mean.

2. You walk into a room and say 'I bought
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Hi,

When I search "accounting career" in the Internet, most of the results are "an accounting career".

However, I am talking about "the" career for me. So, I think "the " may be used.

So, I am confusing.

Thank
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Hi,

PLease tell me this.

Would you walk into a room and begin a conversation by saying "I bought the car yesterday'?

Or would you begin by saying 'I bought a car yesterday'?

Clive
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In your case,
I will say "I bought a car yesterday".

I asked few people before.

Most of them suggests "an accounting career".

One of the explanation is:

So, if you want to use accounting as an adjective to modify the noun "career", then you should say "an accounting career"

Thanks
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Hi again,

In your case,

I will say "I bought a car yesterday".

For the same reason you'd say 'a car' the first time you mention it, you'd alsoasay 'an accounting career' the first time you mention it.
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