definite article or not

English translation: one too many

23:15 Sep 28, 2012
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Science - Computers: Systems, Networks / informatics
English term or phrase: definite article or not
From a math thesis:

"The index ... [formula] is called the level and the second coordinate of the state pair (n;k) is called the phase or the inter-level component of the state ..."
Lioba Multer
United States
Local time: 12:04
Selected answer:one too many
Explanation:
For me, it should be "The index ... [formula] is called the level and the second coordinate of the state pair (n;k) is called the phase or inter-level component of the state ..."

i.e. remove the second-last.
Selected response from:

DLyons
Ireland
Local time: 19:04
Grading comment
I agree.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +5one too many
DLyons


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
one too many


Explanation:
For me, it should be "The index ... [formula] is called the level and the second coordinate of the state pair (n;k) is called the phase or inter-level component of the state ..."

i.e. remove the second-last.

DLyons
Ireland
Local time: 19:04
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I agree.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marijke Singer
5 hrs
  -> Thanks Marijke.

agree  Tony M: Like James, I have some misgivings about the sentence as a whole, but I would agree with you: the penultimate def. article, though not wrong, is superfluous and weighs down an already unwieldy sentence.
7 hrs
  -> Thanks Tony.

agree  Jack Doughty
7 hrs
  -> Thanks Jack.

agree  Charles Davis: Absolutely. That one can and should be cut, but the others all have to be there.
10 hrs
  -> Thanks Charles.

agree  Phong Le
2 days 4 hrs
  -> Thanks Phong Le.
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