By (an) or (x) American writer Mark Twain

Question

Could you help me please?
I don't quite understand if I should use an article in this case or not?

The book is written by an American writer Mark Twain? or
The book is written by (-) American writer Mark Twain?

As far as I know we shouldn't use any articles before such words as "professor" and "doctor" if they are followed by a proper name. And what about other titles? Is there any precise rule I could use here?

P.S. I was trying to find the answer both in grammar books and on the Internet but I didn't succeed. Google gives both variants.

Thanks for your help!

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
Could you help me please?
I don't quite understand if I should use an article in this case or not?

The book is written by an American writer, Mark Twain? Note you need the comma. 'Mark Twain' is used here in apposition to the noun phrase 'an American writer'.

or
The book is written by (-) American writer Mark Twain? Without the article, 'American writer' here functions as an adjectival phrase. It's like the word 'car' in 'car door'.

As far as I know we shouldn't use any articles before such words as "professor" and "doctor" if they are followed by a proper name. In simple contexts. if it's meant as a title there will be a capital and no intervening punctuation.
eg I know Doctor John Smith.
eg I know a doctor, John Smith.

And what about other titles? Is there any precise rule I could use here? 'American writer' is not considered a title. It's like saying 'left-handed mechanic'.
Very broadly speaking, titles are not used in English as much as they seem to be in some other languages. For example, we would never or rarely speak of 'Engineer Smith'.

P.S. I was trying to find the answer both in grammar books and on the Internet but I didn't succeed. Google gives both variants.

Clive

Jencha · Answer

Clive, thank you so much for your answer!

By (an) or (x) American writer Mark Twain

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