1

I'm not a native English speaker, so I'm often wrong when it comes to grammar. I usually go with my gut feeling.

I'm documenting some parts of an application and I was reminded that I often omit the the article in my sentences. So we started discussing individual cases but I was objecting to my very best knowledge why the should not be part of them but I'm not sure.

I would still like to write them correctly even though none of us are native speakers.

  1. The donut chart is used ...

    I wrote it without the article because in my understanding the refers to noun chart which in this case is well defined by the word donut so I would say it doesn't need an article. And it's about a donut chart that is the only one on the component I'm documenting.

  2. The chart slice sizes are ...

    I also omitted the article, but in the end I think my sentence was wrong, because article here refers to slice sizes and I should actually wrote it as Chart's slice sizes and of course without the article.

  3. top part with the date period selector

    This is the whole text of some bullet point. I omitted the article because it refers to a specific selector. A date period selector specifically.

Etc... As said, this is all very fuzzy to me.

Improve this question
3
  • Can the close voter please tell me why this is off topic? It's a specific grammar question...
    – Robert Koritnik
    Oct 26, 2017 at 12:31
  • @Davo: I understand that with plurals they're optional but not in a sense that you may or may not use them. But rather when you use them they provide a different meaning. As I understand it, when they're omitted in plurals it means the whole set is meant, but when there would be an article the then it would mean a subset of the whole set. Is this correct thinking?
    – Robert Koritnik
    Oct 26, 2017 at 14:06
  • @Davo & Mitch: I didn't know there was an ELL site... Help page also doesn't state that and IMO it should. :) Thanks.
    – Robert Koritnik
    Oct 26, 2017 at 14:07

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
0

Unless you are using "headlinese" for a specific purpose (as in a PowerPoint presentation, for example), then you would include the article; i.e.,

"The donut chart is used" to show the relationships, etc.

"The chart-slice sizes are" indicative of the relative importance, etc.

"The top part with the date-period selector" enables you to, etc.

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    Note that except for the use of articles and a few needed commas, your English is excellent.
    – Mark Hubbard
    Oct 26, 2017 at 13:36
  • 1
    Ha ha... :) Thanks. I've been using it for a few decades now. The problem is I simply just use it (either verbally or writing it) but when I start thinking of its grammar correctness I get confused to the point that I loose my gut feeling with specific issues at hand.
    – Robert Koritnik
    Oct 26, 2017 at 14:10
  • 1
    That happens to us native speakers all the time as well. :-)
    – Mark Hubbard
    Oct 26, 2017 at 14:18

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .