The

Question

1. One way to execute a program under Windows is to double click the icon. (Is 'the' referring to program?)

2. One way to execute a program under Windows is to double click a icon. (Does this sentence make any sense? What does it mean compared to #1?)

Thanks.

TammyBaby · Accepted Answer

Jack1121. One way to execute a program under Windows is to double click the icon. (Is 'the' referring to program?)

2. One way to execute a program under Windows is to double click a icon. (Does this sentence make any sense? What does it mean compared to #1?)

Thanks.

I think in 1, there is only 1 icon, so use "the". We use "a/an" when 1st time mention a thing. But I think in 2, we have to use "an icon", not "a icon".

Pieanne · Answer

The clearest way would be to use "its" icon.

HMG · Answer

1) the is correct and yes it does refer to the icon of a specific programme (the little picture on the desktop to access a particular programme)
2) The sentence only makes sense with the use of the indefinite article an (icon)- used in front of a following vowel or mute 'h'

1) tells you that you can access a programme by clicking on the icon relating to that programme.
2) tells you that you can access a programme by clicking an icon - it is possible to access a programme by clicking on an icon, it doesn't specify which programme or which icon, whereas 1) does tell you to click on the icon of a programme you wish to access

Maybe someone else can explain 2) better. I understand what I'm saying but the receiver doesn't always!

Just to add to the confusion, it's possible to change the settings to a single click and not a double click.

Regards

HMG

PS:Pieanne is quite correct that you can use 'its icon' but if you don't want/need to change the actual use of the definite article (the) then leave it as it is

PPS: maybe someone can explain the use of the spelling of 'program' and 'programme'

CalifJim · Answer

The first is better in my opinion.

"a program" shows the use of 'non-specific' "a", so that it means "to execute any program, whichever it is".
"an icon" (It's not "a icon", by the way.) invites the same interpretation, namely "to double-click any icon, whichever it is".

This does not give the desired connection between the program and the icon which goes with that program, i.e., "its icon" as Pieanne has already put it. I would not want to risk the interpretation that you execute any program by clicking any icon! Therefore I'd use "the icon" (assuming the only choices are "an" and "the"), because "the" presents "icon" as definite in a way that "a" does not. "the icon", then, means "the icon which goes with the program selected", which is a better way of expressing it, in my opinion.

CJ

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