Nope, as I explained in my other comment, it’s standard usage.
In English, we often use the definite article when speaking in general about a specific activity or action that involves a non-specific object. E.g. “go to the bathroom” or “catch the bus”, or “read the newspaper”. It’s not poor form at all.
Nope, as I explained in my other comment, it’s standard usage.
you explained more or less what i did, except the whole “using the grammar and spelling of a 3 year-old is valid because language is fluid!” BS argument i outright reject–
and your claims of being an English teacher? it bears no weight here.
An argument from authority (argumentum ab auctoritate), also called an appeal to authority, or argumentum ad verecundiam, is a form of argument in which the opinion of an influential figure is used as evidence to support an argument.[1]
The argument from authority is a logical fallacy,[2] and obtaining knowledge in this way is fallible.[3][4]
so, this comment…
In English, we often use the definite article when speaking in general about a specific activity or action that involves a non-specific object. E.g. “go to the bathroom” or “catch the bus”, or “read the newspaper”. It’s not poor form at all.
and if you can’t comprehend that this is simply another way of explaining what i did, then i certainly question your claims of being an English teacher.
Lol well teaching this professionally surely makes me some form of authority (albeit of course not the authority!) on this subject.
To clarify, your original point sounded like you were making a distinction between metaphorical mirrors and actual mirrors:
“in the mirror” tends to more often refer to a metaphorical “mirror”, typically when discussing self-reflection
“I took a look in the mirror and decided to change my ways.”
“in a mirror” tends to refer most often to actual mirrors that exist in reality, not metaphorically
“I looked into a mirror to fix my eyeliner.”
This incorrect distinction is what I was objecting to, because of course we can use both the indefinite and definite articles to refer to either literal or figurative mirrors.
Lol well teaching this professionally surely makes me some form of authority (albeit of course not the authority!) on this subject.
no, it doesn’t, because even if you could prove that to us (which i’m sure you won’t), your authority doesn’t trump evidence and facts.
This incorrect distinction is what I was objecting to, because of course we can use both the indefinite and definite articles to refer to either real or imaginary mirrors.
and, as i said previously, it’s not technically grammatically incorrect, it’s just bad style/form. and i reject your argument that bad form is “acceptable” just because its common.
your inability to parse what i’ve said here and your insistence on pursuing a needless argument really doesn’t add credibility to your position that you should be considered an authority-- or your claim that you’re an english teacher.
Nope, as I explained in my other comment, it’s standard usage.
In English, we often use the definite article when speaking in general about a specific activity or action that involves a non-specific object. E.g. “go to the bathroom” or “catch the bus”, or “read the newspaper”. It’s not poor form at all.
you explained more or less what i did, except the whole “using the grammar and spelling of a 3 year-old is valid because language is fluid!” BS argument i outright reject–
and your claims of being an English teacher? it bears no weight here.
Argument from authority
so, this comment…
and if you can’t comprehend that this is simply another way of explaining what i did, then i certainly question your claims of being an English teacher.
Lol well teaching this professionally surely makes me some form of authority (albeit of course not the authority!) on this subject.
To clarify, your original point sounded like you were making a distinction between metaphorical mirrors and actual mirrors:
This incorrect distinction is what I was objecting to, because of course we can use both the indefinite and definite articles to refer to either literal or figurative mirrors.
no, it doesn’t, because even if you could prove that to us (which i’m sure you won’t), your authority doesn’t trump evidence and facts.
and, as i said previously, it’s not technically grammatically incorrect, it’s just bad style/form. and i reject your argument that bad form is “acceptable” just because its common.
your inability to parse what i’ve said here and your insistence on pursuing a needless argument really doesn’t add credibility to your position that you should be considered an authority-- or your claim that you’re an english teacher.