Ships

[ewelina]

Hello,

I know that in English we should proceed the names of ships with the definite article.

1) But I read somewhere -- and this seems quite logical -- that it is not the case with the acronyms: HMS and USS.

Like: the Pinafore

But: H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth (for: Her Majesty Ship) or U.S.S. Arizona (for: United States Ship) -- which in fact is the possesive form.

Please confirm the above.

2) The above rule however does not apply to the acronyms: S.S. and R.M.S.

Like: The S.S. Titanic (for: steam ship) or the R.M.S. Britannic, R.M.S. Majestic (what does it stand for?)

Please confirm.

Ewelina

[mykwyner]

R.M.S. stands for Royal Mail Ship.

In American English, I have never heard ships' names used without the definite article "the," whether the prefix initials are used or not.

[Vlad_the_Inhaler]

Hello,

I know that in English we should proceed the names of ships with the definite article.

1) But I read somewhere -- and this seems quite logical -- that it is not the case with the acronyms: HMS and USS.

Like: the Pinafore

But: H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth (for: Her Majesty Ship) or U.S.S. Arizona (for: United States Ship) -- which in fact is the possesive form.

Please confirm the above.

2) The above rule however does not apply to the acronyms: S.S. and R.M.S.

Like: The S.S. Titanic (for: steam ship) or the R.M.S. Britannic, R.M.S. Majestic (what does it stand for?)

Please confirm.

Ewelina

We don't need an article for HMS 'ship' because of the possessive pronoun in His (or Her) Majesty's Ship.

[ewelina]

Thanks guys