Talk:The

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In this case, the "the" is required even when using "preeminent", so it can hardly be said to be replacing it: "the preeminent hospital of choice..." (And in fact, "of choice" does the job just as well.) Additionally, the example phrase "five apples the dollar" does not parse in my idiolect. It could be "five apples a dollar" or perhaps "five apples to the dollar", however. --Brion

No, you've got it backwards. He's not saying that "preeminent" replaces "the", but "the" properly emphasized can mean "preeminent." Eg., "The hospital of choice" is equivalent to "The preeminent hospital of choice" as long as the speaker or writer properly emphasizes "the."

I have the "a" versions of distribution on the A, an page. As for the adjective business, something happens there with the the that is more than just the definite article and there ought to be some way to express that. I thought first it was an emphasis, which it is in speech, but I think you can write the preeminent whatever as the whatever and make that work too, but I'm less sure. Maybe written requires italics. Ortolan88 10:33 Aug 23, 2002 (PDT)

Fixed. Ortolan88 15:49 Sep 28, 2002 (UTC)

Oddity in intro section

"It is derived from gendered articles in Old English which combined in Middle English and now has a single form used with pronouns of either gender." Huh? When is "the" ever used with a pronoun? We don't say "the us," "the it," "the her," or "the them," let alone "the his" or "the theirs." All I can think of is "the one," and "one" is genderless. Cognita (talk) 03:10, 17 December 2020 (UTC)

I am equally confused by this phrasing. Maybe it's a slight error and is meant to say "nouns"? Whatever the case may be, it's confusing and might leave readers and learners with a misunderstanding! ProfessorBlackHole (talk) 01:57, 13 December 2022 (UTC)

Strange phrase... Needs editing?

The words, "and now has a single form used with pronouns of any gender" doesn't seem to make sense. The word "the" isn't used with any pronouns: "the she"? "the him?? "the they"?

It seems like the editor was trying to weigh in on the controversial use of plural pronouns when requested by people identifying as non-binary and not really trying to shed light on the etymology of "the." Maybe the intent was "nouns of any gender"? Woodrathergnot (talk) 18:43, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

@Woodrathergnot, an IP changed "noun" to "pronoun" in Feb 2019, so I've switched it back. As you point out, "pronoun" didn't make sense. Schazjmd (talk) 18:49, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

Thank you! Woodrathergnot (talk) 14:02, 20 April 2023 (UTC)

"Tlie" listed at Redirects for discussion

The redirect Tlie has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2025 August 22 § Tlie until a consensus is reached. Utopes _{(talk / cont)} 05:36, 22 August 2025 (UTC)

why does this exist?!

we really dont need a whole page about a three letter, easy to understand, word. SuperMarioBrosLover8-1 (talk) 15:13, 11 May 2026 (UTC)

it exists because it exists AAeditz (talk) 19:40, 24 May 2026 (UTC)