Monday, April 09, 2012

What's In A "The"?

Why is it that in the US folks refer to a famous sunken ship as Titanic, but a well-known supersonic jet as The Concorde, whereas Brits talk about The Titanic and Concorde?

Just wondering...

8 comments:

  1. Woman... You have to much time on your hands! You notice the damnedest things!!!
    (I have no explanation why we do want we do. I just follow the herd.)

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  2. Obviously it's because we know best :P

    I'd never thought about it before, just seemed the way things were done...technically shouldn't we say RMS Titanic anyway?

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  3. Indeed, Eliza - though I've heard some erroneously refer to it as the SS Titanic.

    I actually have some notepads with the flag of the White Star Line and the words RMS Titanic that I bought at the first ever (and by far the best) Titanic exhibition. Seems a shame to use them...so I haven't!

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  4. Good questions, Val! Also, British: hospital and university; U.S.: THE hospital and THE university. Who knows how it all originated? And Vikeau, I say the same as you, including "the" with almost everything!

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  5. Anonymous8:54 am

    Er....it's always been 'Titanic' to me... although if I want to show off, it's 'RMS Titanic' ;0)

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  6. LOL Val!!! Never "thunk" about it before!

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  7. Sorry, Vikeau, I accidentally deleted your comment instead of the "hacker" or whatever it is. Over-enthusiastic trigger finger!

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