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Which one is correct:

  1. "An invention should be described in its dynamic state. A dynamic state is understood as a state in which... "
  2. "An invention should be described in its dynamic state. The dynamic state is understood as the state in which..."

Thank you in advance!

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"An invention should be described in its dynamic state. The dynamic state is understood as a state in which... "

"An invention should be described in its dynamic state. A dynamic state is understood as the state in which... "

In this case, the articles can be used interchangeably.

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  • This is wrong (the bit about definite articles must be used for dynamic states). And while that change to include both the [dynamic state] and a [state] isn't actually invalid, don't think it's helpful to gratuitously introduce it here. Especially not without mentioning that it would still be perfectly "grammatical, syntactically valid" if you'd reversed it to A dynamic state is understood as the state in which...
    – FumbleFingers
    Sep 28, 2020 at 16:09
  • But definite articles are about specific quantities, aren't they? Then how came my explanation is incorrect?
    – Dhanishtha Ghosh
    Sep 28, 2020 at 17:05
  • You mean to say, I should include both the possibilities, The dynamic state...*a* state.., as well as, A dynamic state...*the* state..?
    – Dhanishtha Ghosh
    Sep 28, 2020 at 17:07
  • Generally you use the indefinite article when defining at term because you are not actually talking about something very specific, you talking about any and all states that may be labelled "dynamic". So you say, "A dynamic state is understood as..."
    – Canadian Yankee
    Sep 28, 2020 at 18:45
  • There are general principles governing when we might use definite, indefinite, or "zero" articles, but they're complicated, and there are a lot of exceptions. In the exact context cited here, both instances could validly use either form. And I personally can't see any reason to suppose that The dynamic state is defined as a state where... carries any significantly different implications to A dynamic state is defined as the state where...
    – FumbleFingers
    Sep 29, 2020 at 11:25

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