28:
945:
translations, with some translators using a definite article for the
English version of the title and others not. The rule of thumb regarding these translated titles of works is this: if there is the least bit of ambiguity whether the article is always used in a translation of the title, it is preferred not to start the Knowledge article name with an article. For example,
661:
This guideline is about naming conventions for
Knowledge articles, and discusses use of "The", "A", and "An" at the start of an article title. There are some situations where they are warranted, but many where they are not. When used inappropriately, they violate common usage, only serving as noise
1111:
In all cases, default the article title to the form of the name that is used by the band themselves, and use "(band)" to disambiguate if necessary. If a band is officially known without a definite article, but the members typically refer to their group as "the (Name)" in everyday speech, then the
944:
Whether a definite or indefinite article is used in
English also depends on differing sensibilities in different languages. There are several languages (like Latin) that do not have a definite article, giving no guidance whether an article would be part of a title. This often leads to alternative
825:
The definite or indefinite article is sometimes included in the official title of literary works as well as other kinds of fiction and non-fiction publications and works such as newspapers, films and visual artworks. In this case, the article should be included in the name of the corresponding
678:
If a term with a definite article has a different meaning with respect to the same term without the article, the term with the article can be used as the name of a
Knowledge article about that meaning, and the term without the article can be used as the name of a separate Knowledge article.
1046:
When a proper name is almost always used with "The", especially if it is included by unaffiliated sources, the article "The" should be used in the name of the corresponding
Knowledge article as well. For instance, this is true for the names of some musical groups:
1327:
The preceding websites include title phrases "The
University of X", but in running text, they refer to themselves as "the University of X". According to the rule of thumb, "The" is not considered to be a part of their name, so the Knowledge article is named
1202:– often used in court case citations and legal documentation in Commonwealth realms as well as in the United Kingdom to describe the institutional relationship of the reigning monarch towards various institutions, such as courts and governmental bodies
888:– In Russian, the native language of the work's composer, the title is without a definite article (and standard Russian has no definite article); in French, since the first public performance of the work, it has always been
55:
1575:
699:
If the definite or indefinite article would be capitalized in running text, then include it at the beginning of the
Knowledge article name. Otherwise, do not (except in the case of musical groups; see below).
674:
In general, a definite ("the") or indefinite ("a" or "an") article should be included at the beginning of the title of a
Knowledge article only if at least one of the following conditions is met:
1082:
This only applies if the definite article is used by the band on their musical publications (CDs, audiotapes, records, etc.) or on their official website. Conversely, some bands do not have
638:
1034:
873:
285:
324:
662:
words. More importantly, this can cause problems with the length of the name, the quick search function, and sorting. Due to these problems, the default rule is to
820:
473:
619:
443:
233:
526:
614:
491:
275:
238:
1230:
561:
531:
381:
354:
334:
815:
1280:
Most universities do not have a definite article in their names. This includes institutions whose websites might suggest otherwise; for example:
1223:
402:
248:
1220:– the common name for a row of stacks of chalk to the west of the Isle of Wight – and without the definite article, "Needles" would be ambiguous
556:
459:
592:
481:
1273:
if that usage has caught on elsewhere. Otherwise, do not use the definite article for universities. This guideline is a weak version of the
211:
645:
1274:
359:
243:
171:
879:
Whether an article is actually part of the title of a work can be a bit hard to distinguish when translation is involved. For example:
597:
551:
206:
186:
506:
438:
201:
1155:
546:
541:
466:
349:
290:
280:
1014:
486:
295:
862:
This does not apply if the definite or indefinite article is not a part of the official title of the work or publication. Thus,
1205:
609:
571:
501:
496:
1602:
1343:
on university press releases and press kits, contact information, "about" pages, and internal department websites, and it is
536:
516:
407:
228:
219:
196:
176:
119:
39:
433:
1464:
521:
511:
300:
191:
181:
166:
141:
136:
1235:
576:
1365:
780:
Not all of the
Knowledge article names which belong to these categories meet the above-listed conditions. For instance,
922:, the article is used the same way in the original French and in the English translations of the titles (for example,
566:
35:
1335:
On the other hand, some universities only refer to themselves as "The
University of X", even in running text (e.g.
1086:
in their names, even though they may sometimes (or even often) be referred to as "the (Name)" in everyday speech:
329:
668:
them unless certain specific conditions are met, usually where they are integral to the article subject's name.
979:
631:
1370:
Definite and indefinite articles should generally be avoided in cases not mentioned above. For example,
1160:
Besides the above-mentioned cases, "The" is sometimes used at the beginning of some other proper names:
978:
For newspapers, the general rule is to follow the name of the publication as it actually appears on the
694:" is a term used to indicate the government authority and the property of that government in a monarchy.
1144:
1026:
758:
47:
1347:
in external sources (try a Google search), then it is more appropriate to name the Knowledge article "
797:, if the article is not the primary topic for the article title without parenthetical disambiguation.
1336:
1208:
of the United Kingdom – it is typically referred to with the definite article, and abbreviated as TNA
830:
1130:
Sometimes, the article "The" is also used at the beginning of the names of companies. For instance:
1305:
839:
428:
103:
1550:
1312:
1149:
971:
936:
854:
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705:
1298:
1211:
1039:
For capitalization of "The" in running prose when it is the first word of a group's name, see
1479:
1359:
1291:
1284:
1134:
1115:
This also extends to some non-musical groups, and even beyond "official" naming, for example
890:
1544:
1319:
1170:– an island nation in the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean, near the U.S. state of Florida
924:
794:
1256:
1249:
1164:
The two Commonwealth countries that have "The" as part of their common and official name:
8:
1453:
1446:
1383:
1139:
965:
956:
949:
762:
753:
the official or commonly used name or nickname of a group, sports team or company (e.g.,
72:
79:
1241:
1066:
1018:
984:
884:
846:
746:
86:
64:
51:
790:
is the name of a musical band, but neither includes a definite or indefinite article.
787:
710:
683:
1116:
930:
914:
1506:
1419:
1226:(for which the word "the" should not be capitalized in the middle of sentences)
16:"WP:THE" redirects here. For more guidance on use of the definite article, see
1596:
1515:
1100:
1095:
994:
800:
These guidelines also apply to foreign-language equivalents, such as Spanish
721:
1410:
1040:
872:. Particular usages for the titles of visual artworks are described in the
1579:
1534:
However, it can be used in cases of prevailing common use. For example:
1524:
1470:
1437:
1428:
1217:
1193:
1167:
1124:
1056:
1051:
754:
1214:– similarly as with the National Archives – e.g. its abbreviation is TNC
1173:
898:
725:
1199:
1187:
1181:
1061:
864:
782:
773:
769:
734:
These conditions are sometimes met if the Knowledge article name is:
691:
1538:
793:
Use of definite and indefinite articles is acceptable as a form of
982:. For instance, Canada's two major national newspapers are titled
1583:
1497:
1358:, then it should be omitted regardless of university usage, e.g.
1090:
1076:
1071:
728:
is part of the United States" are written with a lowercase "the".
687:
17:
1315:
724:
does not include the article "The", because sentences such as "
1488:
1401:
1374:
1002:); an article about a newspaper should never be titled with
1105:
940:("The Queen Margot" would sound rather like a ship's name).
1294:
1392:
1354:
Finally, if common usage has overwhelmingly rejected the
1322:
1287:
1196:– the common name of a military college in South Carolina
50:
may apply. Substantive edits to this page should reflect
1269:
is used in running text throughout university materials
1231:
When definite and indefinite articles should be avoided
1541:(stage name of David Howell Evans in the rock band U2)
1112:
definite article should be included in running prose.
709:
includes the article "The" because sentences such as "
1308:
768:
another official or commonly used proper name (e.g.,
1561:
1301:
934:, with a definite article, is usually translated as
816:
When definite and indefinite articles should be used
604:
Definite or indefinite article at beginning of name
1547:(stage name of Christopher George Latore Wallace)
1594:
1224:The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
1127:for use of "The" and "the" in running prose.)
717:in 1951" are written with a capitalized "The".
1265:A definite article should be applied only if
801:
639:
916:
807:
1035:Names of groups, sports teams and companies
46:Editors should generally follow it, though
738:the title of a work or publication (e.g.,
646:
632:
826:Knowledge article as well. For example,
1595:
1184:– one of the boroughs of New York City
1006:if it is not present in the masthead.
120:Category:Knowledge naming conventions
1465:Knowledge:Naming conventions (ships)
1123:name of several sports teams). (See
22:
13:
786:is the name of a work of art, and
690:or other high dignitaries, while "
54:. When in doubt, discuss first on
14:
1614:
1176:– a small country in West Africa
1015:publishers named for work titles
821:Titles of works and publications
26:
686:" means the headgear worn by a
38:documents an English Knowledge
1568:
1:
1603:Knowledge naming conventions
894:(with the definite article).
7:
1190:– a city in the Netherlands
1013:convention also applies to
10:
1619:
1239:
1145:The New York Times Company
1038:
1028:The New York Times Company
325:Government and legislation
62:
56:this guideline's talk page
15:
1484:The Roman Catholic Church
1337:The College of New Jersey
913:For most of the works of
451:Language/country-specific
1306:University of New Mexico
1388:The Cultural Revolution
1313:University of Sheffield
1150:The Travelers Companies
972:The Journey to the West
855:The Old Man and the Sea
840:The Lady, or the Tiger?
741:The Old Man and the Sea
715:The Old Man and the Sea
706:The Old Man and the Sea
1299:University of Oklahoma
1212:The Nature Conservancy
917:
808:
802:
795:natural disambiguation
620:Technical restrictions
234:Ethnicities and tribes
111:All naming conventions
1557:(fictional character)
1480:Roman Catholic Church
1360:Ohio State University
1292:University of Chicago
1285:University of Arizona
1275:most-common-name rule
1206:The National Archives
1135:The Coca-Cola Company
891:Le Sacre du printemps
291:Programming languages
1545:The Notorious B.I.G.
1339:). If such usage is
1320:University of Sydney
925:The Three Musketeers
239:Royalty and nobility
1576:this RfC discussion
1461:The Queen Elizabeth
1384:Cultural Revolution
1349:The University of X
1140:The Hershey Company
966:Journey to the West
874:Art Manual of Style
763:The Hershey Company
1511:The United Kingdom
1156:Other proper names
1067:The Rolling Stones
1021:The New York Times
985:The Globe and Mail
969:is preferred over
955:is preferred over
885:The Rite of Spring
847:The New York Times
832:A Clockwork Orange
747:The New York Times
1520:The United States
1345:reasonably common
906:without article (
720:On the contrary,
656:
655:
382:Numbers and dates
355:Latter Day Saints
335:Political parties
97:
96:
40:naming convention
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1415:The Eiffel Tower
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915:Alexandre Dumas
868:is preferred to
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711:Ernest Hemingway
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249:Baseball players
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1475:The Renaissance
1456:Queen Elizabeth
1449:Queen Elizabeth
1442:The Netherlands
1433:The Middle East
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1330:University of X
1329:
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1238:
1233:
1158:
1117:the Invincibles
1044:
1037:
1027:
1019:
931:La Reine Margot
928:), except one:
842:" (short story)
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759:The Invincibles
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460:Writing systems
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1119:(which is the
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1551:The Doctor (
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1510:
1501:
1492:
1483:
1474:
1460:
1459:, etc., not
1455:
1448:
1441:
1432:
1423:
1414:
1411:Eiffel Tower
1405:
1396:
1387:
1378:
1369:
1355:
1353:
1344:
1340:
1334:
1326:
1279:
1270:
1266:
1264:
1236:Universities
1159:
1129:
1120:
1114:
1110:
1083:
1081:
1045:
1041:MOS:THEMUSIC
1020:
1010:
1008:
1003:
999:
993:
989:
983:
977:
970:
964:
957:
950:
943:
937:Queen Margot
935:
929:
923:
907:
903:
897:
889:
883:
878:
869:
863:
861:
853:
845:
831:
824:
799:
792:
781:
779:
745:
739:
733:
714:
704:
671:
670:
664:
663:
658:
657:
603:
472:
465:
458:
444:Stub sorting
360:Sports teams
172:Broadcasting
118:
33:
1580:MOS:THEINST
1525:White House
1502:The Ukraine
1471:Renaissance
1438:Netherlands
1429:Middle East
1366:Other cases
1218:The Needles
1194:The Citadel
1168:The Bahamas
1125:MOS:THECAPS
1057:The Beatles
1052:The Bangles
902:– Original
850:(newspaper)
809:Das/Der/Die
755:The Beatles
672:Convention:
598:Use English
552:New Zealand
212:Visual arts
207:Video games
187:Manuscripts
1553:Doctor Who
1174:The Gambia
899:The Scream
788:Eurythmics
726:California
585:Formatting
542:Macedonian
492:Bangladesh
439:Long lists
429:Categories
420:Categories
310:Government
264:Technology
202:Television
48:exceptions
1493:The Sudan
1424:The Joker
1406:The Earth
1341:prevalent
1257:WP:UNITHE
1250:WP:THEUNI
1242:Shortcuts
1200:The Crown
1188:The Hague
1182:The Bronx
1062:The Corrs
998:(without
960:(Tacitus)
953:(Tacitus)
951:Histories
904:Norwegian
865:Mona Lisa
806:, German
783:Mona Lisa
774:The Crown
770:The Hague
692:the Crown
577:Ukrainian
557:Old Norse
547:Mongolian
350:Companies
281:Chemistry
276:Astronomy
267:Transport
65:Shortcuts
52:consensus
36:guideline
1597:Category
1539:The Edge
1379:An apple
1017:, e.g.:
980:masthead
615:Acronyms
532:Japanese
487:Armenian
313:Politics
296:Aircraft
286:Medicine
73:WP:NCTHE
1584:MOS:LDS
1498:Ukraine
1440:, not
1091:Ramones
1077:The Who
1072:The The
858:(novel)
812:, etc.
688:monarch
665:exclude
610:Plurals
572:Tibetan
567:Russian
502:Chinese
497:Burmese
370:Numbers
261:Science
80:WP:NCAN
18:MOS:THE
1527:, not
1518:, not
1509:, not
1500:, not
1491:, not
1482:, not
1473:, not
1431:, not
1422:, not
1413:, not
1404:, not
1395:, not
1386:, not
1377:, not
1101:Pixies
1096:Eagles
992:) and
988:(with
834:(film)
713:wrote
562:Polish
537:Korean
517:Hebrew
507:German
408:Events
403:Places
394:Events
391:Places
244:Sports
229:Clergy
220:People
197:Operas
177:Comics
129:Nature
87:WP:THE
1562:Notes
1489:Sudan
1463:(see
1402:Earth
1397:A dog
1375:Apple
1009:This
908:Skrik
803:El/La
765:), or
750:), or
744:, or
684:crown
527:Irish
522:Indic
512:Greek
434:Lists
417:Lists
373:Dates
330:Legal
301:Ships
192:Music
182:Films
167:Books
158:Media
34:This
1582:and
1574:See
1454:HMS
1447:RMS
1351:".
1121:nick
1106:Nazz
1025:and
918:père
152:Arts
1393:Dog
1356:The
1332:".
1271:and
1267:The
1084:the
1011:The
1004:The
1000:The
990:The
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757:, "
316:Law
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1452:,
1362:.
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910:).
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772:,
1586:.
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1043:.
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58:.
42:.
20:.
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