Chapter 139

THE ARTICLES.

§ 469. The rule of most practical importance about the articles is the rule that determines when the article shall be repeated as often as there is a fresh substantive, and when it shall not.

When two or more substantives following each other denote the same object, the article precedes the first only. We say, _the secretary and treasurer_ (or, _a secretary and treasurer_), when the two offices are held by one person.

When two or more substantives following each other denote different objects, the article is repeated, and precedes each. We say, _the_ (or _a_) _secretary and the_ (or _a_) _treasurer_, when the two offices are held by different persons.

This rule is much neglected.

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