'the second time' or 'a second time'?

[njanja]

They are getting divorced for a second time.
They are getting divorced for the second time.

I would say 'the second time' but i`ve noticed that 'a second,third fourth time etc.' is sometimes used.Could you explain to me when to use it?

Thanks.

[Humble]

When it means once more, you should use a.
Greg made a second, a third, a fourth attempt.

[thestudentproofreader]

Hi njanja

Using the determiner 'the' assumes the writer knows what the subject matter is (definitive)

Using 'a' assumes the subject is not known to the writer, and is more vague in it's usage

They are getting divorced for the second time is fine, as this assumes the writer does have 'inside knowledge' here

In regards to 'a fourth, a fifth time etc', this is acceptable because the writer knows the existence of 'a time' but does not neccessarily have knowledge on the precise details

If they do know, then you would expect this to read:

I've told you not for the fourth, but for the fifth time to stop doing that

In addition, consider this:

The man heard a deafening scream

This would assume the man did not know the source

The man heard the deafening scream

This would assume the man did know the source

This is a simple rule you should bear in mind when writing

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