Urgent: using the indefinite article when citing someone's occupations in one sente

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White Hat

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Hi, everybody!

William Ropp (1960, Nancy, France) is a contemporary photographer, a photo-artist famous for his series of portraits.

I need to know whether we need the second article in this one.


In general, do we need to use the indefinite article when citing someone's occupations in one sentence? Thank you in advance.
 

SoothingDave

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Yes, use the second article. It could be a definite article if it was something like "... the artist famous for the Mona Lisa."

Yes, in general you say someone is "a teacher" or "an engineer." If it is something very specific (which is to say "definite") then use the definite article.

"He is the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers" v "He is a professional football player."
 

White Hat

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SoothingDave, I mean I want to know if we need it when citing several occupations for the same person in one sentence. Like here:

Stephen Ellsworth Coit (born April 18, 1948, in Beverly, Massachusetts) is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and painter, best known for his series of portraits commissioned by Harvard University.
 

White Hat

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I've decided to phrase it in the following way:

William Ropp (1960, Nancy, France) is a contemporary photographer and photo-artist, best known for his series of portraits.
 

SoothingDave

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SoothingDave, I mean I want to know if we need it when citing several occupations for the same person in one sentence. Like here:

Stephen Ellsworth Coit (born April 18, 1948, in Beverly, Massachusetts) is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and painter, best known for his series of portraits commissioned by Harvard University.

No, you don't need it. It reads perfectly natural the way it is.
 

White Hat

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I appeciate your help, Sir! I don't want to start another thread. Just need an opinion on this one:

In the early 90-s, he found a/the style that would make him famous.


I don't know. Personally, I'd go for THE in this one.
 

SoothingDave

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I like "the" too. But note its "90s."
 

White Hat

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Would writing "90's" be considered a serious error?
 

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emsr2d2

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Bennevis, please note/remember that using words like "Urgent" in a thread title or a thread is discouraged on the forum. We are all volunteers, helping out here in our own time so we work to our timescales, not other people's. We don't give priority to one person's threads over another person's.
 
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