“The Go Programming Language” - is the article necessary?
https://golang.org/
Not a native speaker. To me it sounds weird. I'd say "Go programming language".
Thanks
articles definite-articles
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https://golang.org/
Not a native speaker. To me it sounds weird. I'd say "Go programming language".
Thanks
articles definite-articles
New contributor
Thanks @WeatherVane. What if the name of the language was not an actual word? For example "C programming language".
– Alex
Mar 17 at 9:53
1
To restore the comment, I wrote — An article is necessary, "Go programming language" seems like a grammatical error concerning the verb "to go". Compare with "I use hammer" where the article is also needed. — but I deleted it because it needs more context. There are situations where an article is used, and where it is not, so the question is quite broad, about the use of articles generally.
– Weather Vane
Mar 17 at 9:55
From tip.golang.org/doc/faq#go_or_golang some people call it Golang to avoid confusion- especially as a label for google searches or twitter references.
– k1eran
Mar 17 at 12:30
The article would be used similarly for FORTRAN, Basic, Java, C, et al. Why should "Go" be treated differently?
– Hot Licks
Mar 17 at 13:00
@Alex it'd still be "The C Programming Language"―in fact that was the name of the original authoritative book on the subject co-authored by the creator of the C language. "The Go Programming Language" is not only grammatically correct, but probably an intentional allusion to programmer lore as well.
– Trevor Reid
Mar 17 at 14:44
|
show 1 more comment
https://golang.org/
Not a native speaker. To me it sounds weird. I'd say "Go programming language".
Thanks
articles definite-articles
New contributor
https://golang.org/
Not a native speaker. To me it sounds weird. I'd say "Go programming language".
Thanks
articles definite-articles
articles definite-articles
New contributor
New contributor
New contributor
asked Mar 17 at 9:47
AlexAlex
1032
1032
New contributor
New contributor
Thanks @WeatherVane. What if the name of the language was not an actual word? For example "C programming language".
– Alex
Mar 17 at 9:53
1
To restore the comment, I wrote — An article is necessary, "Go programming language" seems like a grammatical error concerning the verb "to go". Compare with "I use hammer" where the article is also needed. — but I deleted it because it needs more context. There are situations where an article is used, and where it is not, so the question is quite broad, about the use of articles generally.
– Weather Vane
Mar 17 at 9:55
From tip.golang.org/doc/faq#go_or_golang some people call it Golang to avoid confusion- especially as a label for google searches or twitter references.
– k1eran
Mar 17 at 12:30
The article would be used similarly for FORTRAN, Basic, Java, C, et al. Why should "Go" be treated differently?
– Hot Licks
Mar 17 at 13:00
@Alex it'd still be "The C Programming Language"―in fact that was the name of the original authoritative book on the subject co-authored by the creator of the C language. "The Go Programming Language" is not only grammatically correct, but probably an intentional allusion to programmer lore as well.
– Trevor Reid
Mar 17 at 14:44
|
show 1 more comment
Thanks @WeatherVane. What if the name of the language was not an actual word? For example "C programming language".
– Alex
Mar 17 at 9:53
1
To restore the comment, I wrote — An article is necessary, "Go programming language" seems like a grammatical error concerning the verb "to go". Compare with "I use hammer" where the article is also needed. — but I deleted it because it needs more context. There are situations where an article is used, and where it is not, so the question is quite broad, about the use of articles generally.
– Weather Vane
Mar 17 at 9:55
From tip.golang.org/doc/faq#go_or_golang some people call it Golang to avoid confusion- especially as a label for google searches or twitter references.
– k1eran
Mar 17 at 12:30
The article would be used similarly for FORTRAN, Basic, Java, C, et al. Why should "Go" be treated differently?
– Hot Licks
Mar 17 at 13:00
@Alex it'd still be "The C Programming Language"―in fact that was the name of the original authoritative book on the subject co-authored by the creator of the C language. "The Go Programming Language" is not only grammatically correct, but probably an intentional allusion to programmer lore as well.
– Trevor Reid
Mar 17 at 14:44
Thanks @WeatherVane. What if the name of the language was not an actual word? For example "C programming language".
– Alex
Mar 17 at 9:53
Thanks @WeatherVane. What if the name of the language was not an actual word? For example "C programming language".
– Alex
Mar 17 at 9:53
1
1
To restore the comment, I wrote — An article is necessary, "Go programming language" seems like a grammatical error concerning the verb "to go". Compare with "I use hammer" where the article is also needed. — but I deleted it because it needs more context. There are situations where an article is used, and where it is not, so the question is quite broad, about the use of articles generally.
– Weather Vane
Mar 17 at 9:55
To restore the comment, I wrote — An article is necessary, "Go programming language" seems like a grammatical error concerning the verb "to go". Compare with "I use hammer" where the article is also needed. — but I deleted it because it needs more context. There are situations where an article is used, and where it is not, so the question is quite broad, about the use of articles generally.
– Weather Vane
Mar 17 at 9:55
From tip.golang.org/doc/faq#go_or_golang some people call it Golang to avoid confusion- especially as a label for google searches or twitter references.
– k1eran
Mar 17 at 12:30
From tip.golang.org/doc/faq#go_or_golang some people call it Golang to avoid confusion- especially as a label for google searches or twitter references.
– k1eran
Mar 17 at 12:30
The article would be used similarly for FORTRAN, Basic, Java, C, et al. Why should "Go" be treated differently?
– Hot Licks
Mar 17 at 13:00
The article would be used similarly for FORTRAN, Basic, Java, C, et al. Why should "Go" be treated differently?
– Hot Licks
Mar 17 at 13:00
@Alex it'd still be "The C Programming Language"―in fact that was the name of the original authoritative book on the subject co-authored by the creator of the C language. "The Go Programming Language" is not only grammatically correct, but probably an intentional allusion to programmer lore as well.
– Trevor Reid
Mar 17 at 14:44
@Alex it'd still be "The C Programming Language"―in fact that was the name of the original authoritative book on the subject co-authored by the creator of the C language. "The Go Programming Language" is not only grammatically correct, but probably an intentional allusion to programmer lore as well.
– Trevor Reid
Mar 17 at 14:44
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
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The article is necessary when you specify what Go is. "I can program in Go" will be comprehensible to software developers, but you might say "I can program in the Go programming language" to others, if you wanted to make sure that they understood.
Many non-programmers would assume from the context that Go is a programming language.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 10:05
2
Ah so it's like "English" vs "the English language". I remember that rule now :)
– Alex
Mar 17 at 10:09
Think of it this way: "Go" is acting like an adjective here. The article actually mofifies "language".
– Spencer
Mar 17 at 13:00
@CJDennis That's true but if someone said "I'm good at Go" you wouldn't know whether they meant the programming language or the strategy game unless there was some other context. Sometimes we need to be specific.
– BoldBen
Mar 17 at 14:06
@Spencer You're talking about a noun adjunct.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 22:50
|
show 2 more comments
The article is necessary because "the Go programming language" means exactly the same as "the programming language called 'Go'." Here "Go" is a proper noun, being used as a modifier on the noun "language". No different from "the Russian language". Since "language" is a fairly vanilla countable noun, it is given an article in situations where an article is appropriate for such nouns.
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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oldest
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The article is necessary when you specify what Go is. "I can program in Go" will be comprehensible to software developers, but you might say "I can program in the Go programming language" to others, if you wanted to make sure that they understood.
Many non-programmers would assume from the context that Go is a programming language.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 10:05
2
Ah so it's like "English" vs "the English language". I remember that rule now :)
– Alex
Mar 17 at 10:09
Think of it this way: "Go" is acting like an adjective here. The article actually mofifies "language".
– Spencer
Mar 17 at 13:00
@CJDennis That's true but if someone said "I'm good at Go" you wouldn't know whether they meant the programming language or the strategy game unless there was some other context. Sometimes we need to be specific.
– BoldBen
Mar 17 at 14:06
@Spencer You're talking about a noun adjunct.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 22:50
|
show 2 more comments
The article is necessary when you specify what Go is. "I can program in Go" will be comprehensible to software developers, but you might say "I can program in the Go programming language" to others, if you wanted to make sure that they understood.
Many non-programmers would assume from the context that Go is a programming language.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 10:05
2
Ah so it's like "English" vs "the English language". I remember that rule now :)
– Alex
Mar 17 at 10:09
Think of it this way: "Go" is acting like an adjective here. The article actually mofifies "language".
– Spencer
Mar 17 at 13:00
@CJDennis That's true but if someone said "I'm good at Go" you wouldn't know whether they meant the programming language or the strategy game unless there was some other context. Sometimes we need to be specific.
– BoldBen
Mar 17 at 14:06
@Spencer You're talking about a noun adjunct.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 22:50
|
show 2 more comments
The article is necessary when you specify what Go is. "I can program in Go" will be comprehensible to software developers, but you might say "I can program in the Go programming language" to others, if you wanted to make sure that they understood.
The article is necessary when you specify what Go is. "I can program in Go" will be comprehensible to software developers, but you might say "I can program in the Go programming language" to others, if you wanted to make sure that they understood.
edited Mar 17 at 10:30
answered Mar 17 at 10:01
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,36911119
6,36911119
Many non-programmers would assume from the context that Go is a programming language.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 10:05
2
Ah so it's like "English" vs "the English language". I remember that rule now :)
– Alex
Mar 17 at 10:09
Think of it this way: "Go" is acting like an adjective here. The article actually mofifies "language".
– Spencer
Mar 17 at 13:00
@CJDennis That's true but if someone said "I'm good at Go" you wouldn't know whether they meant the programming language or the strategy game unless there was some other context. Sometimes we need to be specific.
– BoldBen
Mar 17 at 14:06
@Spencer You're talking about a noun adjunct.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 22:50
|
show 2 more comments
Many non-programmers would assume from the context that Go is a programming language.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 10:05
2
Ah so it's like "English" vs "the English language". I remember that rule now :)
– Alex
Mar 17 at 10:09
Think of it this way: "Go" is acting like an adjective here. The article actually mofifies "language".
– Spencer
Mar 17 at 13:00
@CJDennis That's true but if someone said "I'm good at Go" you wouldn't know whether they meant the programming language or the strategy game unless there was some other context. Sometimes we need to be specific.
– BoldBen
Mar 17 at 14:06
@Spencer You're talking about a noun adjunct.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 22:50
Many non-programmers would assume from the context that Go is a programming language.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 10:05
Many non-programmers would assume from the context that Go is a programming language.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 10:05
2
2
Ah so it's like "English" vs "the English language". I remember that rule now :)
– Alex
Mar 17 at 10:09
Ah so it's like "English" vs "the English language". I remember that rule now :)
– Alex
Mar 17 at 10:09
Think of it this way: "Go" is acting like an adjective here. The article actually mofifies "language".
– Spencer
Mar 17 at 13:00
Think of it this way: "Go" is acting like an adjective here. The article actually mofifies "language".
– Spencer
Mar 17 at 13:00
@CJDennis That's true but if someone said "I'm good at Go" you wouldn't know whether they meant the programming language or the strategy game unless there was some other context. Sometimes we need to be specific.
– BoldBen
Mar 17 at 14:06
@CJDennis That's true but if someone said "I'm good at Go" you wouldn't know whether they meant the programming language or the strategy game unless there was some other context. Sometimes we need to be specific.
– BoldBen
Mar 17 at 14:06
@Spencer You're talking about a noun adjunct.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 22:50
@Spencer You're talking about a noun adjunct.
– CJ Dennis
Mar 17 at 22:50
|
show 2 more comments
The article is necessary because "the Go programming language" means exactly the same as "the programming language called 'Go'." Here "Go" is a proper noun, being used as a modifier on the noun "language". No different from "the Russian language". Since "language" is a fairly vanilla countable noun, it is given an article in situations where an article is appropriate for such nouns.
add a comment |
The article is necessary because "the Go programming language" means exactly the same as "the programming language called 'Go'." Here "Go" is a proper noun, being used as a modifier on the noun "language". No different from "the Russian language". Since "language" is a fairly vanilla countable noun, it is given an article in situations where an article is appropriate for such nouns.
add a comment |
The article is necessary because "the Go programming language" means exactly the same as "the programming language called 'Go'." Here "Go" is a proper noun, being used as a modifier on the noun "language". No different from "the Russian language". Since "language" is a fairly vanilla countable noun, it is given an article in situations where an article is appropriate for such nouns.
The article is necessary because "the Go programming language" means exactly the same as "the programming language called 'Go'." Here "Go" is a proper noun, being used as a modifier on the noun "language". No different from "the Russian language". Since "language" is a fairly vanilla countable noun, it is given an article in situations where an article is appropriate for such nouns.
edited Mar 19 at 2:40
answered Mar 18 at 3:08
Hot LicksHot Licks
19.3k23677
19.3k23677
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Thanks @WeatherVane. What if the name of the language was not an actual word? For example "C programming language".
– Alex
Mar 17 at 9:53
1
To restore the comment, I wrote — An article is necessary, "Go programming language" seems like a grammatical error concerning the verb "to go". Compare with "I use hammer" where the article is also needed. — but I deleted it because it needs more context. There are situations where an article is used, and where it is not, so the question is quite broad, about the use of articles generally.
– Weather Vane
Mar 17 at 9:55
From tip.golang.org/doc/faq#go_or_golang some people call it Golang to avoid confusion- especially as a label for google searches or twitter references.
– k1eran
Mar 17 at 12:30
The article would be used similarly for FORTRAN, Basic, Java, C, et al. Why should "Go" be treated differently?
– Hot Licks
Mar 17 at 13:00
@Alex it'd still be "The C Programming Language"―in fact that was the name of the original authoritative book on the subject co-authored by the creator of the C language. "The Go Programming Language" is not only grammatically correct, but probably an intentional allusion to programmer lore as well.
– Trevor Reid
Mar 17 at 14:44