Microsoft Word Article Usage for esl doc

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Revised 05/02, Page 1 

Article 

Usage 

 

The Writing Center 

At Rensselaer

 

 

4508 Sage Lab 

518/276-8983 

[e-mail] 

www.rpi.edu/web/writingcenter 

 

Developed by: 

John Kohl 

Susan Katz 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction 

The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are 

difficult for many non-native speakers of  

English to learn to use properly.  Some 

of the rules that govern article usage are 

very subtle; only years of experience 

with the language will enable you to 

understand and apply these rules.  

However, Table 3 will help you eliminate 

many errors in article usage from your 

writing. 

 

In order to use Table 3, however, you 

have to understand two concepts: 

countability and definiteness.  These 

concepts are explained in detail below.  

The last part of this handout, beginning 

on page 7, discusses article usage with 

proper nouns as well as the difference 

between “a” and “an.” At the very end of 

the handout is an exercise that you can 

do to test your understanding.