No 'the' in front of noun/title
1
I'm struggling to understand whether or not I can exclude the in front of Countess' Suffering/Pain? This is meant to be a title, as in a book title (but not necessarily that), and I was wondering if it's still proper English not to have it here? I'm not referring to a particular countess.
I know you normally say The Countess' Suffering but is Countess' Suffering still considered correct? It does sound rather unnatural to me.
definite-articles indefinite-articles
edited 12 mins ago
Laurel
31.6k660112
asked May 9 '18 at 14:25
Duchess88Duchess88
134
|
show 11 more comments
1
I'm struggling to understand whether or not I can exclude the in front of Countess' Suffering/Pain? This is meant to be a title, as in a book title (but not necessarily that), and I was wondering if it's still proper English not to have it here? I'm not referring to a particular countess.
I know you normally say The Countess' Suffering but is Countess' Suffering still considered correct? It does sound rather unnatural to me.
definite-articles indefinite-articles
edited 12 mins ago
Laurel
31.6k660112
asked May 9 '18 at 14:25
Duchess88Duchess88
134
If you're not referring to a particular countess, or to a particular dress, what are you referring to? A class of dresses called Countess's Dresses? I don't think such a thing exists. We really can't answer you without knowing more of the particulars.
– Peter Shor
May 9 '18 at 14:29
@PeterShor I'm not exactly sure how to put it. I don't refer to any particular countess or dress. To be honest, Countess' Dress is the first such example that came to my mind. It could be Countess' Sufferings or Countess' Emotions. I know that, for example, The Countess' Emotions is correct (with 'the' in front of the noun). What about Countess' Emotions? Does it mean anything? Does it mean the same thing as The Countess' Emotions? Would it look unnatural to a native English speaker?
– Duchess88
May 9 '18 at 14:38
If there were a class of dresses called Countess's Dresses, I think you could leave off the title. Compare the titles Ghost Story, Baker's Dozen, and Boy's Club. But there's not, so I don't have any idea what Countess's Dress would mean.
– Peter Shor
May 9 '18 at 14:38
@PeterShor Let's forget about 'dress' and focus on 'suffering' or 'emotions' instead. Countess' Emotions -- would this be considered correct, or would the meaning of it be understandable?
– Duchess88
May 9 '18 at 14:44
Pluralizing countess' (=countesses') might make it clearer that you have no particular countess in mind and that you're just trying to title a discussion of emotions that any/all countess/es might feel (if that's what you're after), in which case including "the" would not only be unnecessary, but maybe even wrong (cf: "noblewomen's rights/duties"). If you insist on leaving it singular, however, I think you'd need at least an indefinite article, i.e., "A Countess'[s] Emotions/whatever," which would perhaps be more consistent with the fact that you have no particular countess in mind.
– Papa Poule
May 9 '18 at 16:50
|
show 11 more comments
1
1
1
I'm struggling to understand whether or not I can exclude the in front of Countess' Suffering/Pain? This is meant to be a title, as in a book title (but not necessarily that), and I was wondering if it's still proper English not to have it here? I'm not referring to a particular countess.
I know you normally say The Countess' Suffering but is Countess' Suffering still considered correct? It does sound rather unnatural to me.
definite-articles indefinite-articles
edited 12 mins ago
Laurel
31.6k660112
asked May 9 '18 at 14:25
Duchess88Duchess88
134
I'm struggling to understand whether or not I can exclude the in front of Countess' Suffering/Pain? This is meant to be a title, as in a book title (but not necessarily that), and I was wondering if it's still proper English not to have it here? I'm not referring to a particular countess.
I know you normally say The Countess' Suffering but is Countess' Suffering still considered correct? It does sound rather unnatural to me.
definite-articles indefinite-articles
definite-articles indefinite-articles
edited 12 mins ago
Laurel
31.6k660112
asked May 9 '18 at 14:25
Duchess88Duchess88
134
edited 12 mins ago
Laurel
31.6k660112
asked May 9 '18 at 14:25
Duchess88Duchess88
134
edited 12 mins ago
Laurel
31.6k660112
edited 12 mins ago
Laurel
31.6k660112
edited 12 mins ago
Laurel
31.6k660112
31.6k660112
asked May 9 '18 at 14:25
Duchess88Duchess88
134
asked May 9 '18 at 14:25
Duchess88Duchess88
134
asked May 9 '18 at 14:25
Duchess88Duchess88
134
134
If you're not referring to a particular countess, or to a particular dress, what are you referring to? A class of dresses called Countess's Dresses? I don't think such a thing exists. We really can't answer you without knowing more of the particulars.
– Peter Shor
May 9 '18 at 14:29
@PeterShor I'm not exactly sure how to put it. I don't refer to any particular countess or dress. To be honest, Countess' Dress is the first such example that came to my mind. It could be Countess' Sufferings or Countess' Emotions. I know that, for example, The Countess' Emotions is correct (with 'the' in front of the noun). What about Countess' Emotions? Does it mean anything? Does it mean the same thing as The Countess' Emotions? Would it look unnatural to a native English speaker?
– Duchess88
May 9 '18 at 14:38
If there were a class of dresses called Countess's Dresses, I think you could leave off the title. Compare the titles Ghost Story, Baker's Dozen, and Boy's Club. But there's not, so I don't have any idea what Countess's Dress would mean.
– Peter Shor
May 9 '18 at 14:38
@PeterShor Let's forget about 'dress' and focus on 'suffering' or 'emotions' instead. Countess' Emotions -- would this be considered correct, or would the meaning of it be understandable?
– Duchess88
May 9 '18 at 14:44
Pluralizing countess' (=countesses') might make it clearer that you have no particular countess in mind and that you're just trying to title a discussion of emotions that any/all countess/es might feel (if that's what you're after), in which case including "the" would not only be unnecessary, but maybe even wrong (cf: "noblewomen's rights/duties"). If you insist on leaving it singular, however, I think you'd need at least an indefinite article, i.e., "A Countess'[s] Emotions/whatever," which would perhaps be more consistent with the fact that you have no particular countess in mind.
– Papa Poule
May 9 '18 at 16:50
|
show 11 more comments
If you're not referring to a particular countess, or to a particular dress, what are you referring to? A class of dresses called Countess's Dresses? I don't think such a thing exists. We really can't answer you without knowing more of the particulars.
– Peter Shor
May 9 '18 at 14:29
@PeterShor I'm not exactly sure how to put it. I don't refer to any particular countess or dress. To be honest, Countess' Dress is the first such example that came to my mind. It could be Countess' Sufferings or Countess' Emotions. I know that, for example, The Countess' Emotions is correct (with 'the' in front of the noun). What about Countess' Emotions? Does it mean anything? Does it mean the same thing as The Countess' Emotions? Would it look unnatural to a native English speaker?
– Duchess88
May 9 '18 at 14:38
If there were a class of dresses called Countess's Dresses, I think you could leave off the title. Compare the titles Ghost Story, Baker's Dozen, and Boy's Club. But there's not, so I don't have any idea what Countess's Dress would mean.
– Peter Shor
May 9 '18 at 14:38
@PeterShor Let's forget about 'dress' and focus on 'suffering' or 'emotions' instead. Countess' Emotions -- would this be considered correct, or would the meaning of it be understandable?
– Duchess88
May 9 '18 at 14:44
Pluralizing countess' (=countesses') might make it clearer that you have no particular countess in mind and that you're just trying to title a discussion of emotions that any/all countess/es might feel (if that's what you're after), in which case including "the" would not only be unnecessary, but maybe even wrong (cf: "noblewomen's rights/duties"). If you insist on leaving it singular, however, I think you'd need at least an indefinite article, i.e., "A Countess'[s] Emotions/whatever," which would perhaps be more consistent with the fact that you have no particular countess in mind.
– Papa Poule
May 9 '18 at 16:50
If you're not referring to a particular countess, or to a particular dress, what are you referring to? A class of dresses called Countess's Dresses? I don't think such a thing exists. We really can't answer you without knowing more of the particulars.
– Peter Shor
May 9 '18 at 14:29
If you're not referring to a particular countess, or to a particular dress, what are you referring to? A class of dresses called Countess's Dresses? I don't think such a thing exists. We really can't answer you without knowing more of the particulars.
– Peter Shor
May 9 '18 at 14:29
@PeterShor I'm not exactly sure how to put it. I don't refer to any particular countess or dress. To be honest, Countess' Dress is the first such example that came to my mind. It could be Countess' Sufferings or Countess' Emotions. I know that, for example, The Countess' Emotions is correct (with 'the' in front of the noun). What about Countess' Emotions? Does it mean anything? Does it mean the same thing as The Countess' Emotions? Would it look unnatural to a native English speaker?
– Duchess88
May 9 '18 at 14:38
@PeterShor I'm not exactly sure how to put it. I don't refer to any particular countess or dress. To be honest, Countess' Dress is the first such example that came to my mind. It could be Countess' Sufferings or Countess' Emotions. I know that, for example, The Countess' Emotions is correct (with 'the' in front of the noun). What about Countess' Emotions? Does it mean anything? Does it mean the same thing as The Countess' Emotions? Would it look unnatural to a native English speaker?
– Duchess88
May 9 '18 at 14:38
If there were a class of dresses called Countess's Dresses, I think you could leave off the title. Compare the titles Ghost Story, Baker's Dozen, and Boy's Club. But there's not, so I don't have any idea what Countess's Dress would mean.
– Peter Shor
May 9 '18 at 14:38
If there were a class of dresses called Countess's Dresses, I think you could leave off the title. Compare the titles Ghost Story, Baker's Dozen, and Boy's Club. But there's not, so I don't have any idea what Countess's Dress would mean.
– Peter Shor
May 9 '18 at 14:38
@PeterShor Let's forget about 'dress' and focus on 'suffering' or 'emotions' instead. Countess' Emotions -- would this be considered correct, or would the meaning of it be understandable?
– Duchess88
May 9 '18 at 14:44
@PeterShor Let's forget about 'dress' and focus on 'suffering' or 'emotions' instead. Countess' Emotions -- would this be considered correct, or would the meaning of it be understandable?
– Duchess88
May 9 '18 at 14:44
Pluralizing countess' (=countesses') might make it clearer that you have no particular countess in mind and that you're just trying to title a discussion of emotions that any/all countess/es might feel (if that's what you're after), in which case including "the" would not only be unnecessary, but maybe even wrong (cf: "noblewomen's rights/duties"). If you insist on leaving it singular, however, I think you'd need at least an indefinite article, i.e., "A Countess'[s] Emotions/whatever," which would perhaps be more consistent with the fact that you have no particular countess in mind.
– Papa Poule
May 9 '18 at 16:50
Pluralizing countess' (=countesses') might make it clearer that you have no particular countess in mind and that you're just trying to title a discussion of emotions that any/all countess/es might feel (if that's what you're after), in which case including "the" would not only be unnecessary, but maybe even wrong (cf: "noblewomen's rights/duties"). If you insist on leaving it singular, however, I think you'd need at least an indefinite article, i.e., "A Countess'[s] Emotions/whatever," which would perhaps be more consistent with the fact that you have no particular countess in mind.
– Papa Poule
May 9 '18 at 16:50
|
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If you're not referring to a particular countess, or to a particular dress, what are you referring to? A class of dresses called Countess's Dresses? I don't think such a thing exists. We really can't answer you without knowing more of the particulars.
– Peter Shor
May 9 '18 at 14:29
@PeterShor I'm not exactly sure how to put it. I don't refer to any particular countess or dress. To be honest, Countess' Dress is the first such example that came to my mind. It could be Countess' Sufferings or Countess' Emotions. I know that, for example, The Countess' Emotions is correct (with 'the' in front of the noun). What about Countess' Emotions? Does it mean anything? Does it mean the same thing as The Countess' Emotions? Would it look unnatural to a native English speaker?
– Duchess88
May 9 '18 at 14:38
If there were a class of dresses called Countess's Dresses, I think you could leave off the title. Compare the titles Ghost Story, Baker's Dozen, and Boy's Club. But there's not, so I don't have any idea what Countess's Dress would mean.
– Peter Shor
May 9 '18 at 14:38
@PeterShor Let's forget about 'dress' and focus on 'suffering' or 'emotions' instead. Countess' Emotions -- would this be considered correct, or would the meaning of it be understandable?
– Duchess88
May 9 '18 at 14:44
Pluralizing countess' (=countesses') might make it clearer that you have no particular countess in mind and that you're just trying to title a discussion of emotions that any/all countess/es might feel (if that's what you're after), in which case including "the" would not only be unnecessary, but maybe even wrong (cf: "noblewomen's rights/duties"). If you insist on leaving it singular, however, I think you'd need at least an indefinite article, i.e., "A Countess'[s] Emotions/whatever," which would perhaps be more consistent with the fact that you have no particular countess in mind.
– Papa Poule
May 9 '18 at 16:50