Please find attached...

Question

A.  Please find the attached list of examinees.B.  Please find attached the list of examinees.C.  Please find attached list of examinees.Which of the most is/are correct?Which is more natural?Is there any difference in meaning between them especially between those with 'the' and no 'the'?Thank you in advance for your kind assistance.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

A. Please find the attached list of examinees.
B. Please find attached the list of examinees.

C. Please find attached list of examinees.

Which of the most is/are correct? Both A and B are fine. They are both examples of business jargon.

C is not really grammatical.

Which is more natural? All 3 are used.

Is there any difference in meaning between them especially between those with 'the' and no 'the'?

With all 3, the reader will just get the meaning of 'here is the list'. He is unlikely to start analyzing the meaning more carefully.

If you really start weighing every word,

A and C suggest there are other lists of examinees,

but B means this is the only list of examinees.

If you want to avoid jargon, just write 'Here is the list of examinees'.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much for your answers.

CliveA. Please find the attached list of examinees.
B. Please find attached the list of examinees.
C. Please find attached list of examinees.

CliveA and C suggest there are other lists of examinees,
but B means this is the only list of examinees.

I don't completely understand why A suggests there are other lists of examinees. Is it because the article 'the' specifically refers only to the list that is attached meaning there are other lists that are unattached?
Also, why does C suggest the same? I can't find an indication. Please explain.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Clive

“A. Please find the attached list of examinees.
B. Please find attached the list of examinees.
C. Please find attached list of examinees.

”

Clive

“A and C suggest there are other lists of examinees,
but B means this is the only list of examinees.
”

I don't completely understand why A suggests there are other lists of examinees. Is it because the article 'the' specifically refers only to the list that is attached meaning there are other lists that are unattached? Yes. 'The attached list' means 'The list that is attached'. This leaves open the possibility that there are other lists that are not attached.

Also, why does C suggest the same? I can't find an indication. Please explain. C is just a compressed form of A, with 'the' omitted.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

CliveI don't completely understand why A suggests there are other lists of examinees. Is it because the article 'the' specifically refers only to the list that is attached meaning there are other lists that are unattached? Yes. 'The attached list' means 'The list that is attached'. This leaves open the possibility that there are other lists that are not attached.

This makes sense to me now.

CliveC is just a compressed form of A, with 'the' omitted.

Ah, I see.

Thank you very much, Clive. You've been very helpful. It was kind of you.

Please find attached...

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