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Robert,

Personally, I don't like to use the definite article with a name but
there isn't any universal, hard and fast rule, even if we exclude the
fumblings of journalists and other ignorant lubbers. Different
communities of mariners at different times have either included or
excluded the "the" (and if you go beyond anglophones, things get even
more complicated -- the French used to routinely include their definite
article as part of the name itself).

"Victory", "the Victory", "H.M.S. Victory" and even "H.M.S. the Victory"
could all be regarded as correct, at least in some times and places. The
one variant that is certainly wrong (but seen all too often these days)
is "the H.M.S. Victory".

Trevor Kenchington


Robert Eno wrote:

> I would like to throw out a question for the nautical minded masters out
> there.
>
>
>
> I am having a "discussion" regarding the naming convention for ships. I
> contend that a ship's name is never preceded by "the".  In otherwords,
> Nova Scotia's famous schooner "Bluenose" would not be referred to as
> "the Bluenose" but simply "Bluenose"
>
>
>
> Comments anyone?
>
>
>
> Robert Eno
>


--
Trevor J. Kenchington PhD                         Gadus@iStar.ca
Gadus Associates,                                 Office(902) 889-9250
R.R.#1, Musquodoboit Harbour,                     Fax   (902) 889-9251
Nova Scotia  B0J 2L0, CANADA                      Home  (902) 889-3555

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