Should it be “German society” or “the German society”?












1














This is a line I came across in someone's bio. Apparently the author is not a native speaker of English.




Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to the German society.




I am under the impression that an article should not be used when referring to a country's society collectively. Google search results show that most journalistic writings do not use the definite article before a nation's collective public, i.e. "German society", "Chinese society", "Japanese society". There are some search results on Google Books and Google Scholar that have the definite article before a nation's society, but I am not sure they have been authored by native speakers of English.



Should there be the definite article in this case?










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    1














    This is a line I came across in someone's bio. Apparently the author is not a native speaker of English.




    Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to the German society.




    I am under the impression that an article should not be used when referring to a country's society collectively. Google search results show that most journalistic writings do not use the definite article before a nation's collective public, i.e. "German society", "Chinese society", "Japanese society". There are some search results on Google Books and Google Scholar that have the definite article before a nation's society, but I am not sure they have been authored by native speakers of English.



    Should there be the definite article in this case?










    share|improve this question

























      1












      1








      1







      This is a line I came across in someone's bio. Apparently the author is not a native speaker of English.




      Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to the German society.




      I am under the impression that an article should not be used when referring to a country's society collectively. Google search results show that most journalistic writings do not use the definite article before a nation's collective public, i.e. "German society", "Chinese society", "Japanese society". There are some search results on Google Books and Google Scholar that have the definite article before a nation's society, but I am not sure they have been authored by native speakers of English.



      Should there be the definite article in this case?










      share|improve this question













      This is a line I came across in someone's bio. Apparently the author is not a native speaker of English.




      Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to the German society.




      I am under the impression that an article should not be used when referring to a country's society collectively. Google search results show that most journalistic writings do not use the definite article before a nation's collective public, i.e. "German society", "Chinese society", "Japanese society". There are some search results on Google Books and Google Scholar that have the definite article before a nation's society, but I am not sure they have been authored by native speakers of English.



      Should there be the definite article in this case?







      articles definite-article






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      asked 5 hours ago









      L. Moneta

      2,65221237




      2,65221237






















          2 Answers
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          2














          No



          You would use The German Society only to refer to a specific organization (like a school's German language club that called itself this) or a specific period of German society ("The German society of the 1920s").



          Otherwise, it would just be "German society."






          share|improve this answer





























            0














            No
            Just as you might say




            Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to include German society.




            You do not need the definite article unless it is a specific portion




            Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to include the German society of the 1940's.







            share|improve this answer





















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              2 Answers
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              2 Answers
              2






              active

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              active

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              active

              oldest

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              2














              No



              You would use The German Society only to refer to a specific organization (like a school's German language club that called itself this) or a specific period of German society ("The German society of the 1920s").



              Otherwise, it would just be "German society."






              share|improve this answer


























                2














                No



                You would use The German Society only to refer to a specific organization (like a school's German language club that called itself this) or a specific period of German society ("The German society of the 1920s").



                Otherwise, it would just be "German society."






                share|improve this answer
























                  2












                  2








                  2






                  No



                  You would use The German Society only to refer to a specific organization (like a school's German language club that called itself this) or a specific period of German society ("The German society of the 1920s").



                  Otherwise, it would just be "German society."






                  share|improve this answer












                  No



                  You would use The German Society only to refer to a specific organization (like a school's German language club that called itself this) or a specific period of German society ("The German society of the 1920s").



                  Otherwise, it would just be "German society."







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 4 hours ago









                  rpeinhardt

                  3883




                  3883

























                      0














                      No
                      Just as you might say




                      Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to include German society.




                      You do not need the definite article unless it is a specific portion




                      Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to include the German society of the 1940's.







                      share|improve this answer


























                        0














                        No
                        Just as you might say




                        Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to include German society.




                        You do not need the definite article unless it is a specific portion




                        Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to include the German society of the 1940's.







                        share|improve this answer
























                          0












                          0








                          0






                          No
                          Just as you might say




                          Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to include German society.




                          You do not need the definite article unless it is a specific portion




                          Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to include the German society of the 1940's.







                          share|improve this answer












                          No
                          Just as you might say




                          Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to include German society.




                          You do not need the definite article unless it is a specific portion




                          Since 2005 I have extended my research on education to include the German society of the 1940's.








                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 4 hours ago









                          Peter

                          60.4k553107




                          60.4k553107






























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