"The"

It’s easy for me to assume that many of you are somewhat uncomfortable when in the presence of a narcissist or an egomaniac. The other person’s overwhelming sense of self importance makes you fight the urge to slap some humility into him or her. Although my negative opinion of him has softened over the years, I still become a little bit uneasy when I hear “The Donald.” Perhaps it’s because I view “the” as an indicator of individuality rather than supremacy. While I do understand that “the” can be used to isolate groups such as “the group,” the family,” or “the Americans,” “the” continues to provide an individualistic function by segregating the group from other clusters. “The” is a marker that informs the reader or the listener that the noun that follows has some unique property…some distinctive difference.


Generally “the” is used before nouns with a specifying or limiting effect. In other words “the” suggests that referred object is special. The identified item stands out from all the others. My favorite example is “THE Ohio State University.” Not only does the emphatic use of “the” single out OSU as unique, it also drives Michigan fans crazy. Who knew that such an innocuous little word could have such an impact? Think of “The Word,” “The Bible,” “The Constitution,” and “the people.” Each time that we read “the,” our focus becomes narrowed to a specific image. Contrast that with word or people. Without the definitive “the,” they describe the common, the broader application.

It seems clear, therefore, if we wish to avoid becoming lost in the wasteland of ambiguity and generality, we must have “the” to define the object of our consideration. Marriage counselors often state that the little things make a difference in a relationship. “The” is proof that the little things do matter. The end.

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