Subj : "a" or "the"
To   : Paul Quinn
From : Anton Shepelev
Date : Wed Jun 13 2018 20:34:50

Paul Quinn to Anton Shepelev:

AS>> Recently I had to translate into English this notice:
AS>>
AS>>   You are allowed to use this system if you are a
AS>>   citizen of the Russian Federation and the holder of
AS>>   an e-passport.
AS>>
AS>> I then realised I cannot rationalise my choice of
AS>> articles: why "a citizen" but "the holder"?  Perhaps
AS>> because a country has many citizens but a passport
AS>> always a single holder?
PQ>
PQ> Bad rhythm.  Either would be fine.  However, like a
PQ> child at the keyboard of a piano continually thumping
PQ> just a single key.  Klang, klang, klang... ad infinitum.
PQ> It's exceedingly boring.  In your text, the choice of a
PQ> "the" breaks the boredom of the potential use of another
PQ> "a".  Either would probably work but why repeat its use?

I think that grammar should take priority over euphony, and
I asked my question from the viewpoint of the former.  As to
the rhythm, repetition is not always bad, and in this case I
find it quite harmless to my ear.  Elegant variation,
however, is evil:

  http://www.bartleby.com/116/302.html

Is "a holder of an e-passport" even correct, assuming that
each passport has only one holder?

AS>> But then, a note in the British passport says:
AS>>
AS>>   This passport remains the property of Her Majesty's
AS>>   Government in the United Kingdom.
AS>>
AS>> Why "the property"?  I am sure a passport does not
AS>> constitute the property of the Government.

PQ> An "a" would not be correct.  Yes, it will be one of a
PQ> very many properties owned by a government but this
PQ> statement is being very specific about a singular
PQ> object.

Agreed, but the alternative I had in mind was zero article,
e.g.:

  This passport remains property of Her Majesty's Government
  in the United Kingdom.

PQ> OTOH, that declaration brings to mind the possibility of
PQ> thinking that if the holder is indeed visiting another
PQ> country, then the passport is no longer the property of
PQ> the Government.  It could be said then that it's only
PQ> its property while _in_ the United Kingdom.  8-)

Indeed, but I think "in the United Kingdom" modifies
"government" rather than "remains".

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