the West Indies vs. West Indies

[Boris Tatarenko]

I'm wondering what the difference between "the West Indies" and "West Indies" is.

I'm also confused with "the Middle East" and "Middle East".

I can assure you that I frequently come across both variants but I don't know whether there's a difference. :roll:

 

[Barb_D]

When referring to the location, use "the" for both.

Civilization is believed to have started in the Middle East.
My cousin took a cruise to the West Indies.

 

[MikeNewYork]

For me, "the West Indies" and "the Middle East" refer to geographic areas. The others are less specific.

 

[Barb_D]

I would like to see the sentences where they are used without the "the."

 

[emsr2d2]

Middle East political news stories are hard to follow.

 

[Raymott]

My cousin took a cruise to the West Indies.

Jamaica?

 

[J&K Tutoring]

When we want to use place names as adjectives, we sometimes simply leave off 'the', though there are often better forms: Middle Eastern, for example.

We might refer to a West Indies (adj) trade route. OR A trade route to the West Indies (noun).

 

[MikeNewYork]

Jamaica?

No, it was her idea.