When to use "New Year" vs. "A New Year" vs "The New 2011 Year"?

Status
Not open for further replies.

vgv8

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Russian Federation
When to use "New Year" vs. "A New Year" vs "The New 2011 Year"?

I am sure it was discussed but I was overwhelmed in various discussions with these phrases unrelated to my question when I tried to search.

I see that there are greetings:
1)"A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year"
2)"Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year"
3)"Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"

What is the difference of "Merry Christmas" vs. "A Merry Xmas"?
Why are the articles capitalized (while "and" - not)?

Really, these holidays seem to me like known definitive specific events
Can I say:
"The Merry Christmas and The Happy New Year"?

How would it be more correct to insert 2011 into this phrase related to Year only ?
and if related to both Christmas (of year 2011) and Year 2011?


Update:

What are the differences in meaning of:
-"On the Christmas Eve"
- "On a Christmas Eve"
- "On Christmas Eve"
?
 
Last edited:

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Re: When to use "New Year" vs. "A New Year" vs "The New 2011 Year"?

Too many questions for one post. I have answered some.

1)"A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year"
2)"Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year"
3)"Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"

You will hear all three. On the rare occasions I utter such words, I use #2

What is the difference of "Merry Christmas" vs. "A Merry Xmas"? Some people prefer the full form, feeling 'Xmas' is lazy and/or inappropriate for the celebration of the birth of Christ.

Why are the articles capitalized (while "and" - not)?
In titles, headings and greetings the 'little words', prepositions and determiners, are rarely capitalised.

Really, these holidays seem to me like known definitive specific events
Can I say:
"The Merry Christmas and The Happy New Year"? N0
5
 

opa6x57

Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Re: When to use "New Year" vs. "A New Year" vs "The New 2011 Year"?

I'll look at these:

What are the differences in meaning of:
-"On the Christmas Eve"
- "On a Christmas Eve"
- "On Christmas Eve"
?

Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas.
"The Christmas Eve" would most likely be a part of a longer sentence. "Do you remember the Christmas Eve when the car crashed into the tree in the front yard?" (The speaker is referring to a SPECIFIC Christmas Eve.)

There is little difference in meaning between "A Christmas Eve" and "Christmas Eve" - it would really depend on the context of the phrase.

"It happened last year, on Christmas Eve..."
"On a Christmas Eve, many years ago ... "



======================
Not a teacher. American/53 years old.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top