1.  What kind of noun is it: collective, proper, or other?

1.1 Generic, proper and adjectival collective nouns (nouns made up of parts) normally need “the” (common collectives need a/an/the; see 3.1)

the

1.2 Proper singular & plural nouns (except proper collective nouns) DO NOT normally need an article (this includes one-day holidays, magazines, universities and their abbreviations, and a few other abbreviations)

 -X-

1.3 People groups ending in “s” DO NOT need “the”

-X-

1.4 People groups that don’t end in “s” need “the”

the

2.  Does the noun refer to something specific?

2.1 Singular but not specific nouns need “a/an”—including proper nouns used in a general sense

a/an

2.2 To specify ALL members of a set, use “the”

the

2.3 For specific things your reader knows about, use “the” (whether known by context, contrast to similar things, culture, or setting; includes “the __ of”)

the

3.  Is the noun countable (singular/plural) or uncountable?

3.1 Singular countable nouns and common collective nouns need an article

     a/an/the

3.2 Uncountable and plural countable nouns DO NOT need an article (in their general sense)

-X-

4.  Special cases and reminders

4.1 You can usually omit articles with home, school, work, church or campus

-X-

4.2 DO NOT use articles with “BY+a form of transportation”

-X-

4.3 DO NOT use articles with the name of sports or school subjects

-X-

4.4 Possessive pronouns and “one” can take the place of an article

4.5 Don’t forget articles in front of adjectives