the strong feeling/a strong feeling that

[Vladv1]

It has nothing to do with trends, no. We would use 'the' if the noun is in some way already known or otherwise identifiable to the listener. In your example, that seems to be the case. If it's widespread, then it's identifiable. Is that what you mean? Being widespread is not a trend, by the way.



Why do you think so? Remember this important point: The choice of which article to use depends on the context.

The widespread awareness that smoking kills has saved lives/ Widespread awareness that smoking kills has saved lives. Which sounds better?

 

[jutfrank]

Which sounds better?

What do you mean?

 

[Annabel Lee]

The widespread awareness that smoking kills has saved lives/ Widespread awareness that smoking kills has saved lives. Which sounds better?

In my opinion, the example with "the" works much better than the example without, because you are talking about actually existing widespread awareness:

The widespread awareness that smoking kills has saved lives. ​

Back in the 1940s or so, when widespread awareness of that fact did not exist (that is, when awareness of that fact was not widespread), the version without "the" (and with "would save" rather than "has saved") would have worked well:

Widespread awareness that smoking kills would save lives. ​

​

Indeed, the "a" variant would also work, this indicating "a type of awareness that is widespread":

A widespread awareness that smoking kills would save lives. ​

 

[Vladv1]

In my opinion, the example with "the" works much better than the example without, because you are talking about actually existing widespread awareness:

The widespread awareness that smoking kills has saved lives. ​

Back in the 1940s or so, when widespread awareness of that fact did not exist (that is, when awareness of that fact was not widespread), the version without "the" (and with "would save" rather than "has saved") would have worked well:

Widespread awareness that smoking kills would save lives. ​

​

Indeed, the "a" variant would also work, this indicating "a type of awareness that is widespread":

A widespread awareness that smoking kills would save lives. ​

Thanks a lot for the brilliant examples. Would the same apply if we changed the adjective to "profound"?