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I am struggling with English articles. Do these two sentences mean the same?

a) A computer is a useful machine in graphic design.

b) The computer is a useful machine in graphic design. (meaning all computers as a group, not one specific computer)

FumbleFingers
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Jano
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    'A computer' is OK, and 'the computer' is also OK, as explained [here](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/333481/article-usage-he-invented-the-slide-rule) – Michael Harvey Feb 26 '23 at 20:05
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    Does this answer your question? [article usage, He invented THE slide rule](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/333481/article-usage-he-invented-the-slide-rule) – elluser Feb 26 '23 at 20:29
  • Better than either would be "Computers are useful machines in graphic design" – James K Feb 26 '23 at 21:11
  • The invented the slide rule. is not the same case as here. – Lambie Feb 26 '23 at 22:00
  • @JamesK: It's neither better nor worse. "The computer is..." or "Computers are..." are both 100% equivalent for this purpose. "A computer is..." changes the feel of the sentence a tiny bit, but it's still 100% fine. – ShadowRanger Feb 27 '23 at 12:22

1 Answers1

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There is one context where a/the have the same meaning.

  • A computer is a useful machine in graphic design.
  • The computer is a useful machine in graphic design.

Bear in mind, that generally speaking, those mean the same thing.

HOWEVER, using the like that is considered formal English:

The dog is a noble beast.

I'll repeat that: generalities in English are usually expressed with the determiner a or a plural noun.

  • A dog is a noble beast. [generality, standard]
  • Dogs are noble beasts. [generality, standard]
  • The dog is a noble beast. [generality, formal]
Lambie
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    If you reversed the first two phrasings in your final set of three, they'd be in *rising* order of "formality". – FumbleFingers Feb 26 '23 at 23:03
  • @FumbleFingers I disagree with you. – Lambie Feb 26 '23 at 23:43
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    The guy down the pub probably wouldn't say his dog was a "noble beast" anyway, so we're already in a relatively raised register. But imho *A pig is a dirty animal* is a lot more "formal / declamatory" than *Pigs are dirty animals* in the context of "pub talk". – FumbleFingers Feb 27 '23 at 11:36
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    @FumbleFingers Really, pub talk? How about: two Cambridge or Oxford professors waxing lyrical over a whiskey? – Lambie Feb 27 '23 at 15:26