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Should I use the definite article with a proper name of a particular workplace / institution, like in the example below, or is it correct to omit it in this case?

Workers servicing a steam engine locomotive at (the) Wolsztyn Steam Locomotives Depot

Both options seem correct to me, but I'm not sure. I know the definite article should be used with names of organizations, like "the United Nations", "the European Union" etc., but this is just a proper name of a particular workplace.

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  • I would say that it has nothing to do with whether you're using a proper name. If this is part of a sentence, use the definite article, but don't use it if this is just a photo caption. – Isabel Archer May 25 '20 at 20:14
  • This is exactly just a photo caption on a stock photography site. So "... at Wolsztyn Steam Locomotives Depot" is correct? – c_buk May 25 '20 at 20:24
  • Then you can choose either option. It's a journalistic convention to leave articles out of headlines and captions just to keep them brief, but you can certainly include them if you want to. – Isabel Archer May 25 '20 at 20:29
  • Ok, thanks a lot, but I understand that it would be an error to omit the article in "normal" usage, like a sentence in a longer article? – c_buk May 25 '20 at 20:34
  • Yes, I'd say so. – Isabel Archer May 25 '20 at 20:41
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If the phrase you've mentioned in your post is part of a sentence, you should use the definite article. You don't need to use it, however, if your phrase is a headline or a photo caption.

If it's a photo caption, you can choose either option. It's a journalistic convention to leave articles out of headlines and captions just to keep them brief, but you can certainly still include them if you want to.

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