“Sweat the Small Stuff!”

This month, author and editor Nancy Lohr discusses the importance of even the smallest words.

Grammar books put it this way: “One type of adjective is the article. A and an are indefinite articles, and the is a definite article.” [yawn] Small stuff without a doubt. Short words. Puny words. Insignificant words.

Right?

Wrong.

These little articles can make a big difference in your writing, and it all comes down to understanding the nuances.

The is definite, so it must refer to a specific noun, a noun already mentioned in the text or already known by the reader. Perhaps like this: “Ask your mother for the keys.” Which keys? If you have your driver’s license or even your learner’s permit, that’s a no-brainer. The car keys!

A or an are indefinite, so they refer to something nonspecific or not mentioned already. Perhaps like this: “I need to choose a book for my book report.” Which book? We don’t have enough information to know and, so far, neither do you.

So why should you care about articles? As a writer, it is up to you to provide your reader with words that communicate a clear message, including nuances and subtleties that add depth to your work. You need to place carefully crafted clues in plain sight for the reader who is paying attention. No matter that some won’t notice; your task is to produce clear and effective text.

One way to sharpen your own awareness of these nuances is to swap articles in familiar titles to see what happens. Consider these:

A Lion, A Witch, and A Wardrobe
King Arthur and a Knight of a Round Table
The Wrinkle in Time
A Lord of a Ring
Where a Red Fern Grows
To Kill the Mockingbird
A Phantom of an Opera
Gone with a Wind
All Quiet on a Western Front
Winnie-a-Pooh

You see? The meaning of each title is altered, even if the shift is subtle. The choice of whether to use a, an, or the does make a difference. Use the when you mean a specific noun; use a or an when you mean a noun that isn’t specific. It’s not hard, and your reader will be grateful when you take the time to sweat the small stuff.

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