Wordy Wednesday: LET'S BE SPECIFIC WITH "THE"

Whether you pronounce this “thee” or “thu”, THE is called the definite article.

Such a simple little word that we rarely think of. We practically don’t see it when we read. It’s invisible. Let’s dive into this seemingly non-word that gives words specific meaning.

~Denoting one or more people or things already mentioned or assumed to be common knowledge. THE man stood on THE corner.

~Used to refer to a person, place, or thing that is unique. THE Queen.

~Used instead of a possessive to refer to someone with whom the speaker or person addressed is associated. I’m meeting THE boss. How’s THE family?

Then there were a whole lot of other definition explanations for the various ways THE is used. Because THE is so common and such a little word, I assumed it would have a small, concise definition. Wrong! The ones I gave above weren’t even a quarter of them.

Basically, what I got out of the list before my eyes glazed over is this: THE distinguishes between any ol’ thing and a specific one (compare with “A”). If someone says read A book, then any book will do. But if they say read THE book, then a specific book is to be read, so don’t read the wrong one. Have tea with A queen. Have tea with THE Queen.

THE is pronounced “thu” when it comes before a consonant sound, and with a long “e” when it comes before a vowel sound or for emphasis. Please pass THU gravy. Who’s bringing THEE artichoke dip this year? (That one’s for my Book Buddies. Miss you guys!) My granddaughter isn’t just adorable, she’s THEE most adorable Bug-a-boo!

I never knew there was an actual rule about the pronunciation before consonant and vowel sounds. I guess I just naturally did it from years of hearing it that way. I did know the one about emphasis.

The English don’t use THE in front of some words that we do, like university and hospital. We would say that we are going to THE hospital, while they say they’re going to hospital. But we say, we’re going to college, but we’re going to THE university. We can say that we are going to THE college, but that means a specific one as opposed to going to college in general.

So when you want to be specific, use THE. It’s not hanging around for nothing.

NEW RELEASES
“Holly & Ivy,”my #HistoricalRomance novella in A BOUQUET OF BRIDES COLLECTION, takes place in 1890, in Washington State. It’s about a young woman who accompanies her impetuous younger sister on her trip across the country to be a Christmas mail-order bride and is helped by a gallant stranger.  #BouquetOfBrides

COURTING HER AMISH HEART is a contemporary romance, the first in the Prodigal Daughters series.
A doctor or an Amish wife? She can choose to be only one…Kathleen Yoder comes home after fourteen years in the Englisher world. Practicing medicine means sacrifice—no Amish man will want a doctor for a wife. Widowed Noah Lambright offers a cottage as her new clinic, seeing how much Kathleen’s skills can help their community. But as their friendship deepens, could love and family become more than a forbidden dream?
#ChristianRomance #HistoricalRomance #Romance

MARY DAVIS is a bestselling, award-winning novelist of over two dozen titles in both historical and contemporary themes. She has five titles releasing in 2018; "Holly & Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection in January, Courting Her Amish Heart in March, The Widow’s Plight in July, Courting Her Secret Heart September, & “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in MISSAdventure Brides Collection in December. She is a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.

Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-three years and two cats. She has three adult children and one incredibly adorable grandchild. Find her online at:

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