User:SOTO/Forum Archive/Help!/@comment-4139960-20130708231515/@comment-1432718-20130709004417

User:SOTO/Forum Archive/Help!/@comment-4139960-20130708231515/@comment-1432718-20130709004417 No, it wasn't you. I found it at user talk:Boblipton, nearly at the bottom of the page for anyone interested.

As for the use of "the" v. "a/an", I think "the" is only marginally better than "this". It still leaves the reader asking, "Which one? Did I miss something?"

Compare these two sentences:
 * A boy saw Rory leaving the TARDIS. Rory gave the boy an ice cream.

or
 * The boy saw Rory leaving the TARDIS. Rory gave the boy an ice cream.

The first choice establishes a boy, then continues to refer to the specific boy.

The second choice sounds like it's referring to something already established (or is coming from a first grade reader).

"The" can be used in certain circumstances, the best example of which can be found in Czechout's examples on Boblipton's talk page.