The definded article and computer-related proper names

Question

Hello,I'm not an Englishman, it might be the reason why some affairs in English are problematic for me. Let's take the defined article - "the". Where to use it and where not? I don't mean the basic usage, but sometimes I'm really confused. For example, if there are some proper names. Of course, there are some rules in this case, too (I don't usually remember all of them, but I check in Google if I can), however, still there are some cases where I can't find the answer.The problem is that I write a lot of technical IT-related texts at work and, probably, I make many linguistic mistakes. So below, you can find a few examples of problematic situations. Please, give me correct answers!1. Let's imagine a software tool comparing images, called "cmpimgs".Which is correct:a) Use the cmpimgs tool in order to... bla bla bla b) Use ( ) cmpimgs tool in order to... bla bla bla c) Use ( ) tool "cmpimgs" in order to... bla bla bla d) Use the tool "cmpimgs" in order to... bla bla bla For me, this situation resembles "Barbie doll", so I would say B. What about A?2. Another case - which is correct?a) This information can be found in the log file "cmpimgs.log". b) This information can be found in ( ) log file "cmpimgs.log". c) other options...3. What would be if I hadn't put the attributive word "log"?a) This information can be found in the file "cmpimgs.log". b) This information can be found in ( ) file "cmpimgs.log". c) This information can be found in the "cmpimgs.log" file. d) This information can be found in ( ) "cmpimgs.log" file. I was taught that we say "in the figure" or "in Figure 2". This is the reason why I would say B. What about A?Please, help me! Thank you in advance.MR

Usenet · Accepted Answer

At 06:29:08 on Fri, 27 Feb 2009, Marteno Rodia wrote in
(Email Removed):
[nq:1]I'm not an Englishman, it might be the reason why some affairs in English are problematic for me.[/nq]
I am not an Englishman either. I am a Scottish woman. This does not mean that I automatically have trouble with the language.
[nq:1]1. Let's imagine a software tool comparing images, called "cmpimgs". Which is correct: a) Use the cmpimgs tool in order to... bla bla bla[/nq]
Although you could just say "Use cmpimgs in order to..."
[nq:1]2. Another case - which is correct? a) This information can be found in the log file "cmpimgs.log". 3. What would be if I hadn't put the attributive word "log"? a) This information can be found in the file "cmpimgs.log".[/nq]
So, it's a) in every case.

Molly Mockford
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin (My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hello, I'm not an Englishman, it might be the reason why some affairs in English are problematic for me. Let's ... make many linguistic mistakes. So below, you can find a few examples of problematic situations. Please, give me correct answers![/nq]
Hi Marteno,
The general rule would be: if you are using a term as a name (in the same style you might use a person's name), then omit "the". If you are using the term as an adjective, or attribute, of a normal noun, then you need to include "the".
[nq:1]1. Let's imagine a software tool comparing images, called "cmpimgs". Which is correct: a) Use the cmpimgs tool in order ... order to... bla bla bla For me, this situation resembles "Barbie doll", so I would say B. What about A?[/nq]
B and C are wrong. Both A and D are correct, although I would use "" in A too: Use the "cmpimgs" tool in order to...
In this instance, the object noun is "tool", not "cmpimgs". If instead you used "cmpimgs" as a name, you would omit "the":

e) Use "cmpimgs" in order to...
To use your Barbie analogy, these would both be correct: f) Use Barbie in order to...
g) Use the Barbie doll in order to...
In the second case, Barbie is grammatically an adjective; the object noun is "doll".
[nq:1]2. Another case - which is correct? a) This information can be found in the log file "cmpimgs.log". b) This information can be found in ( ) log file "cmpimgs.log". c) other options...[/nq]
A is correct. This would also be correct:
c) This information can be found in "cmpimgs.log".

But this leaves out the clarification that "cmpimgs.log" is a log file.
[nq:1]3. What would be if I hadn't put the attributive word "log"? a) This information can be found in the ... c) This information can be found in the "cmpimgs.log" file. d) This information can be found in ( ) "cmpimgs.log" file.[/nq]
No difference from 2. A and C are correct. It is not the addition of an adjective that controls the use of "the", but whether the object noun is a proper noun (name) or a common noun (Q to anyone: what is the correct term for a non-proper noun?).
[nq:1]I was taught that we say "in the figure" or "in Figure 2". This is the reason why I would say B. What about A?[/nq]
You were taught correctly, because "in Figure 2" is using "Figure 2" as a name. But your B is not the same situation.
[nq:1]Please, help me! Thank you in advance.[/nq]
Hope this has been of help. It is an interesting exercise to try and codify these kinds of rules!
Cheers
Tony

Tony Mountifield
Work: (Email Removed) - http://www.softins.co.uk Play: (Email Removed) - http://tony.mountifield.org

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Tony & Einde, Thank you!![/nq]
By the way, it should be "definite article", not "definded article".
John Hall
"It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information."
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

The definded article and computer-related proper names

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