MSGID: 1:153/716.0 de344560   
   REPLY: 2:221/360.0 5db92ffa   
   CHRS: IBMPC 2   
   Hi, Alexander!  Awhile ago you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:   
      
   AK>  I also don't see any evidence indicating Annabel   
   AK>  had been employed in the same capacity, but IMHO   
   AK>  also there is no ground to suggest that a stenographer   
   AK>  is as unique position in a firm as its President.   
        |is in as unique a position   
      
      
              The title of "president" certainly sounds more formal, and is often   
   capitalized.  With other job titles, however, the situation may be less clear.   
   "Secretary of State" is an official role which is held by only one person at a   
   time... yet the word "secretary" may be used to describe any of four employees   
   in a large high school.  The question in my mind is whether or not the article   
   can correctly be omitted if I'm referring to the secretary, teacher-librarian,   
   etc. at a much smaller school... or to the proprietor of Giovanni's Bistro.  I   
   must say I found the omission of the article in your example surprising, but I   
   can see justfication for it if it's optional there & the novelist wants to get   
   on with the show ASAP after filling in a bit of the background....  :-)   
      
      
              Four centuries ago, other writers left out "the" in:   
      
      
                    Where is he that is born King of the Jews?   
                                              --  Matt. 2:2, KJV   
      
      
                    The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark   
                                              --  Wm. Shakespeare   
      
      
   We could have a great time discussing why Herod saw Jesus as a potential rival   
   and whether or not Hamlet was the last of his line, but my point is that AFAIK   
   native speakers of English have been leaving out "the" in situations where the   
   rationale is not immediately obvious for quite awhile now.  The rule you cited   
   mentions two important factors... the uniqueness of the job & the formality of   
   the job description.  In everyday life things may not be quite so simple.  But   
   as long as you know rules have exceptions I can't think of a better one.  :-))   
      
      
      
      
   --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/123 15/2 90/1 227/114 229/354 426 1014 240/100 1120 1634   
   SEEN-BY: 240/2100 5138 5832 5853 8001 8002 8005 249/206 317 261/38   
   SEEN-BY: 280/5003 313/41 317/3 320/219 322/757 335/364 342/200 382/147   
   SEEN-BY: 2454/119   
   PATH: 153/7715 261/38 240/1120 5832 229/426