a/the final version of

[Katz]

Hi everyone,

When talking about a final draft/version of a document/letter/contract, etc. do we use "a" or "the"? Or is it correct to use either article?

Examples:

- What are you doing?
- I'm preparing/composing/working on a/the final version/draft of the contract with XYZ.

- I thought John had sent me a/the final version of the statement but it turned out that it was just a draft.

[Bennevis]

There are several versions and it's one of them: They're shooting it in December. That will be a final version of the movie.
But if you mean that very version, you should use the definite article:
- Which version is he talking about? - The final version.

So you get:

- What are you doing?
- I'm preparing/composing/working on a final version/draft of the contract with XYZ.

- I thought John had sent me the final version of the statement but it turned out that it was just a draft.

I hope I'm right.

[Barb_D]

If it's TRULY final (I cant' even count how many "final" versions have had subsequent revisions), then there is only one. Use "the final version."

[Katz]

Many thanks for your replies.

Therefore:

Yesterday, I was working on a final version of the contract.

Yesterday, I sent my boss the final version of the contract.

[bhaisahab]

If it's final, it's final. There can only be one final.