Which article is correct when referring to a disease? (e.g. the flu, a cold)
1
I just had my first Composition 102 lecture and the professor said that when you refer to a disease you use "the" as in "the flu."
I don't argue with that example because you say "I have the flu," and not "I have the cold," but if that's true then why does nobody say "the cancer?"
Cancer is a disease, but I have never heard anyone say "the cancer," so is my professor wrong?
nouns articles syntax
asked 9 hours ago
jglezjglez
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add a comment |
1
I just had my first Composition 102 lecture and the professor said that when you refer to a disease you use "the" as in "the flu."
I don't argue with that example because you say "I have the flu," and not "I have the cold," but if that's true then why does nobody say "the cancer?"
Cancer is a disease, but I have never heard anyone say "the cancer," so is my professor wrong?
nouns articles syntax
asked 9 hours ago
jglezjglez
61
New contributor
jglez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Did your professor indicate that there were no exceptions to that rule? If so, he's wrong; if not, he's not wrong, but did not provide complete information.
– Jeff Zeitlin
9 hours ago
See tchrist's magisterial answer in Is “flu” the only disease usually accompanied with “the”? One omission is the cholera, as in John Challice's Should the Cholera come, what ought to be done?
– choster
8 hours ago
3
Possible duplicate of Is "flu" the only disease usually accompanied with "the"?
– Davo
8 hours ago
If it seems like an article in needed, you can use "a". There is no article needed for "cancer" because it is a term for a great many different diseases and is more of a descriptive term. The use of "the" and "a" with "flu" are both acceptable, but scientifically there are many different sicknesses referred to as flu (therefore "a" is more accurate). It is the common usage of the term "the flu" that makes it preferred by your professor.
– user22542
7 hours ago
It also depends on where you live. In the UK, it's common to hear I have flu, whereas in North America, it's I have the flu.
– Jason Bassford
29 mins ago
add a comment |
1
1
1
I just had my first Composition 102 lecture and the professor said that when you refer to a disease you use "the" as in "the flu."
I don't argue with that example because you say "I have the flu," and not "I have the cold," but if that's true then why does nobody say "the cancer?"
Cancer is a disease, but I have never heard anyone say "the cancer," so is my professor wrong?
nouns articles syntax
asked 9 hours ago
jglezjglez
61
New contributor
jglez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I just had my first Composition 102 lecture and the professor said that when you refer to a disease you use "the" as in "the flu."
I don't argue with that example because you say "I have the flu," and not "I have the cold," but if that's true then why does nobody say "the cancer?"
Cancer is a disease, but I have never heard anyone say "the cancer," so is my professor wrong?
nouns articles syntax
nouns articles syntax
asked 9 hours ago
jglezjglez
61
New contributor
jglez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 9 hours ago
jglezjglez
61
New contributor
jglez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 9 hours ago
jglezjglez
61
New contributor
jglez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 9 hours ago
jglezjglez
61
asked 9 hours ago
jglezjglez
61
61
New contributor
jglez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
jglez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
jglez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Did your professor indicate that there were no exceptions to that rule? If so, he's wrong; if not, he's not wrong, but did not provide complete information.
– Jeff Zeitlin
9 hours ago
See tchrist's magisterial answer in Is “flu” the only disease usually accompanied with “the”? One omission is the cholera, as in John Challice's Should the Cholera come, what ought to be done?
– choster
8 hours ago
3
Possible duplicate of Is "flu" the only disease usually accompanied with "the"?
– Davo
8 hours ago
If it seems like an article in needed, you can use "a". There is no article needed for "cancer" because it is a term for a great many different diseases and is more of a descriptive term. The use of "the" and "a" with "flu" are both acceptable, but scientifically there are many different sicknesses referred to as flu (therefore "a" is more accurate). It is the common usage of the term "the flu" that makes it preferred by your professor.
– user22542
7 hours ago
It also depends on where you live. In the UK, it's common to hear I have flu, whereas in North America, it's I have the flu.
– Jason Bassford
29 mins ago
add a comment |
Did your professor indicate that there were no exceptions to that rule? If so, he's wrong; if not, he's not wrong, but did not provide complete information.
– Jeff Zeitlin
9 hours ago
See tchrist's magisterial answer in Is “flu” the only disease usually accompanied with “the”? One omission is the cholera, as in John Challice's Should the Cholera come, what ought to be done?
– choster
8 hours ago
3
Possible duplicate of Is "flu" the only disease usually accompanied with "the"?
– Davo
8 hours ago
If it seems like an article in needed, you can use "a". There is no article needed for "cancer" because it is a term for a great many different diseases and is more of a descriptive term. The use of "the" and "a" with "flu" are both acceptable, but scientifically there are many different sicknesses referred to as flu (therefore "a" is more accurate). It is the common usage of the term "the flu" that makes it preferred by your professor.
– user22542
7 hours ago
It also depends on where you live. In the UK, it's common to hear I have flu, whereas in North America, it's I have the flu.
– Jason Bassford
29 mins ago
Did your professor indicate that there were no exceptions to that rule? If so, he's wrong; if not, he's not wrong, but did not provide complete information.
– Jeff Zeitlin
9 hours ago
Did your professor indicate that there were no exceptions to that rule? If so, he's wrong; if not, he's not wrong, but did not provide complete information.
– Jeff Zeitlin
9 hours ago
See tchrist's magisterial answer in Is “flu” the only disease usually accompanied with “the”? One omission is the cholera, as in John Challice's Should the Cholera come, what ought to be done?
– choster
8 hours ago
See tchrist's magisterial answer in Is “flu” the only disease usually accompanied with “the”? One omission is the cholera, as in John Challice's Should the Cholera come, what ought to be done?
– choster
8 hours ago
3
3
Possible duplicate of Is "flu" the only disease usually accompanied with "the"?
– Davo
8 hours ago
Possible duplicate of Is "flu" the only disease usually accompanied with "the"?
– Davo
8 hours ago
If it seems like an article in needed, you can use "a". There is no article needed for "cancer" because it is a term for a great many different diseases and is more of a descriptive term. The use of "the" and "a" with "flu" are both acceptable, but scientifically there are many different sicknesses referred to as flu (therefore "a" is more accurate). It is the common usage of the term "the flu" that makes it preferred by your professor.
– user22542
7 hours ago
If it seems like an article in needed, you can use "a". There is no article needed for "cancer" because it is a term for a great many different diseases and is more of a descriptive term. The use of "the" and "a" with "flu" are both acceptable, but scientifically there are many different sicknesses referred to as flu (therefore "a" is more accurate). It is the common usage of the term "the flu" that makes it preferred by your professor.
– user22542
7 hours ago
It also depends on where you live. In the UK, it's common to hear I have flu, whereas in North America, it's I have the flu.
– Jason Bassford
29 mins ago
It also depends on where you live. In the UK, it's common to hear I have flu, whereas in North America, it's I have the flu.
– Jason Bassford
29 mins ago
add a comment |
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Did your professor indicate that there were no exceptions to that rule? If so, he's wrong; if not, he's not wrong, but did not provide complete information.
– Jeff Zeitlin
9 hours ago
See tchrist's magisterial answer in Is “flu” the only disease usually accompanied with “the”? One omission is the cholera, as in John Challice's Should the Cholera come, what ought to be done?
– choster
8 hours ago
3
Possible duplicate of Is "flu" the only disease usually accompanied with "the"?
– Davo
8 hours ago
If it seems like an article in needed, you can use "a". There is no article needed for "cancer" because it is a term for a great many different diseases and is more of a descriptive term. The use of "the" and "a" with "flu" are both acceptable, but scientifically there are many different sicknesses referred to as flu (therefore "a" is more accurate). It is the common usage of the term "the flu" that makes it preferred by your professor.
– user22542
7 hours ago
It also depends on where you live. In the UK, it's common to hear I have flu, whereas in North America, it's I have the flu.
– Jason Bassford
29 mins ago