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In an English language class at school, I was taught to always use "the" not "a/an" when I want to use an ordinal number, for example, "for the second time in a row" instead of "for a second time in a row."

However, from time to time, I see people use a or an, like "for a second time in a row." And it seems all intentional and correct.

To me, whose native language is not English, both look the same, except only the latter case adds a bit of uncertainty. Is that the case?

Take one more example.

"Life expectancy for Americans declined for the second year in 2021"

  • Speaker is 100% sure this is the second time.

"Life expectancy for Americans declined for a second year in 2021"

  • Speaker is not 100% sure this is the second time, and he/she does not wish to be blamed later on when it turned out to be the third or fourth time, or;
  • Speaker knows it's the second time and is implying that the third or forth time is expected to follow - just a one point in a long series.

This is what I think. How do you switch between "the nth ordinal number" and "a/an ordinal number?"

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  • "That's a nice cat!" "Thanks. I have a second one, but she's hiding now." There are many situations in which only "a"/"an" is acceptable. Sep 3, 2022 at 17:19
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    The choice of article has nothing to do with the degree of certainty. In this case, either would do. Sep 3, 2022 at 18:41

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