Semester

A, if you want to make a general statement.

And "the" is incorrect? If I said that sentence with "the", would it still be correct, Clive?

This is what I don't understand. I thought that with time parameters (day, week, month, year, semester) that recur, It's always 'the semester'. You won't say 'Christmas is celebrated at the end of a year'. why is this "a" okay??

CliveA, if you want to make a general statement.

A, if you want to make a general statement.
B, if you want to make a specific statement.

AlpheccaStarsB, if you want to make a specific statement.

What is a specific statement? I googled it, but did not find anything. You are a native speaker. How do you decide "I want to make a general or a specific statement"? How do you make that decision?

eg.
I am paying my nephew's tuition. He dropped out last spring semester in late April.
The semester ended in May. We got no refund for his tuition. I was upset with him.

I told him, "Only a fool drops out of school at the end of the semester."

AlpheccaStarseg.I am paying my nephew's tuition. He dropped out last spring semester in late April.The semester ended in May. We got no refund for his tuition. I was upset with him.I told him, "Only a fool drops out of school at the end of the semester."

Aaaaaah. Okay, that makes a lot more sense. Thank you! Sorry about being so finicky and thanks for your pat