In many scientific papers, the article before the word "Equation" is omitted. Is there any grammar statement behind this? For instance:
"Equation (8) contains various approximations, and we have to check their consistency."
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3 Answers
Your example refers to a specific equation, namely equation 8, therefore the equation eight or an equation eight would not really make sense in this case. An Equation y=x^2 however is a perfectly valid thing to say.
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Thank you, but I can not understand why "the" is not valid? Does not a definite equation require the definite article?– freudeCommented Oct 10, 2013 at 11:53
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1Well, I suppose you could count 8 as an equation, but I'm guessing the 8 is referring to some equation somewhere? And I'm no English expert (it's not even my first language) so I don't have a grammatical reasoning for this, but the equation (8) feels a bit wonky. The point is it's not necessary in this context. Commented Oct 10, 2013 at 11:58
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I have got your point. So, (8) can be considered as a demonstrative determiner, like this, those etc. I mean "equation (8)" can be replaced somehow by "that equation." And grammar tells us that the words with demonstrative determiners do not require an article.– freudeCommented Oct 10, 2013 at 13:05
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Try thinking of "Equation (8)" as the name (identifier) of the equation, just as your name (identity) is "freude".
You would expect someone to refer to you just by your name, as "freude" - you wouldn't expect them to refer to you as "the freude". Similarly, you refer to Equation (8) as "Equation (8)" because that is its name.
The definitive article has its use when constructing an argument wherein a second / tertiary equation forms a lemma that contrasts other lemmas in the argument.
The definitive article can thus be used to create contrast between the facets of the argument.
answered Oct 10, 2013 at 13:06
