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In general, "a" is used when the noun is generic or it's not clear which (of many of that noun) I am referring to. "The" is used when either referring to something I've already mentioned, or referrin …

"For the better" is an idiomatic expression meaning "to improve" that (usually) functions as an adverb. As with other idioms, you use the whole thing, commonly with a verb that indicates a change: …

I'm going to agree with BobRodes' comment and say this is just inconsistent writing. The first list should have been just "personal pronouns". Saying "the personal pronouns" seems superfluous.

Your question is less about grammar and more about style. One common rule in good English style is to keep structures parallel when writing lists of things. For example, "Tomorrow I'm scheduled to m …

"Yesterday was Jon's birthday" is most natural. But aside from this, as a rule, countable nouns that are known or unique require "the" or some possessive in front of them. "Birthday" is countable, …

The definite article "the" is used for titles that are not necessarily unique, to indicate you mean a specific person who held that title (which you will define). There were many Viking kings, but th …

Comparatives and superlatives ("better", "soonest") are adjectives that would not normally take the definite article "the". However, it is grammatical to use the adjective as a noun, where the adject …

You're right, "the" helps a lot. But if I were to write the sentence, I would write instead "whether the host can be reached". I'm not crazy about "reachability", since it's not really a word in the …

"The Flag" is simply short for "the flag of the United States of America" -- which, as you can imagine, is easier to say. We use the definite article to indicate the noun is something that is either …

Yes and no. As a headline of an article, "Best Women's Running Shoes" would be fine. As StoneyB says in his comment (and in the linked answer), "headline" English often eliminated short and unnecess …

I personally would use the article, but it might help to think of "British author J.K. Rowling" as a proper noun preceded by a short adjective phrase. You would not say the Tom Lee (at least in this …

It's pretty much the same rule for all nouns, abstract or concrete. When referring to a general concept, either use no article or the indefinite article. When referring to a specific or known instan …

This usage for prizes follows the general rules for any other use of the definite/indefinite/zero article for countable objects: Use the definite article for a specific, known instance: She w …

In English, some kind of determiner or quantifier is almost always required (except with proper nouns, plural nouns, and "uncountable" nouns). In this case any of the following would complete the sen …

"Capital punishment" refers to a generic, uncountable process or concept, similar to many other nouns like "brushing your teeth" or "collective bargaining" or "parliamentary government" or "driving to …