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Anglista2008 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

The Earth?

hi there,

do we say "the Earth" or rather simply "Earth" ? I guess we should use 'the' since 'earth' is only one... but in the other hand I see phrases such as the greatest plac on earth...

thanks
  

Top answer

Both are used. In strictly scientific texts no srticle is used since Earth is a planet and the names of the planets take no article: Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Earth. In such contexts Earth is always capitalized as well.

— Cool Breeze

  • Both are used.
  • In strictly scientific texts no srticle is used since Earth is a planet and the names of the planets take no article: Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Earth.
  • In such contexts Earth is always capitalized as well.
  • In informal English the is often used with earth.
  • There are idioms without the article: What on earth do you mean?
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2 Answers
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Both are used. In strictly scientific texts no srticle is used since Earth is a planet and the names of the planets take no article: Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Earth. In such contexts Earth is always capitalized as well. In informal English the is often used with earth.

There are idioms without the article: What on earth do you mean?

CB
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When used as a proper noun, Earth should not be preceded by an article. One would not say nor write "the Mars" or "the Venus." This is correct for the name of our planet as well, though abuse of this is common.

When speaking of soil, and using the term "earth" as a synonym, such as in "I plant my crops in the earth where it is rich and moist," the article is appropriate.
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