Use of “The” before an Abbreviation
Use of the article the depends on whether the abbreviation is an acronym (pronounced as a word) or an initialism (of which the letters are individually pronounced). The is generally omitted before acronyms of proper nouns (the NATO, the NASA, the UNICEF) but used with initialisms (the UK, the US, the EU, the BBC). With abbreviations of common nouns, use the if it would be used with the full form (the CEO, the ATM).
With acronyms
Omit the article the before the acronym of a proper noun (such as the name of a country, department, or organization) even if it would be used with the full form. (An acronym is an abbreviation pronounced as a word.)
- NATO is a modern military alliance.
Not “the NATO,” even though the would be used with the full form (“the North Atlantic Treaty Organization”).
- DARPA now contracts out core functions to corporations.
- We analyzed data released by OPEC from 2001 to 2011.
- BAFTA has an international program of learning initiatives.
- SAARC is a geopolitical union of eight countries in South Asia.
- Anita works at NASA.
- You can donate to UNICEF if you want to help.
With acronyms of common nouns, which refer to a class of things, use the if it would be used with the full form, but not otherwise.
- Reinstall the DOS on your computer.
the disk operating system; therefore the DOS
- Here is how to upgrade the RAM on your laptop.
- Please enter the PIN for this account.
- The SIM on your phone contains subscriber information.
With initialisms
With initialisms (abbreviation of which the letters are individually pronounced), the article the is generally used if it would be used before the full form.
- She was born in the USA.
the United States of America; the USA
- Why do extraterrestrials visit only the US?
- The UK is no longer part of the EU.
- The EU is part of the EEA.
- Does Poco work for the FBI or the CIA?
- The DOJ refuses to get involved.
- The UN has had its share of triumphs and disasters.
However, you should note that whether the is used before an abbreviation depends on convention and established usage rather than a fixed set of rules.
- the BBC, the NYT
thePBS,theING,theWHO,theHSBC
The may be omitted before an initialism that is a proper noun even if it would be used with the expanded term.
- the World Health Organization but
theWHO - the Public Broadcasting Service but
thePBS - the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited but
theHSBC
With abbreviations of common nouns, always use the if it would be used with the expanded form.
- Minerva Dash is the CEO of Nusquam Inc.
the chief operating officer
- Is the ATM working?
- Increase security by enabling the VPN on your device.
- The DNA from this sample is contaminated.
Examples from published content
The following examples from published content illustrate how the is generally omitted before acronyms of proper nouns.
The reef, which is just under two miles long and is in ‘pristine’ condition, was found by a team of divers mapping the ocean floor for UNESCO.
— “Sprawling coral reef resembling roses is discovered off Tahiti,” New York Times (Jan. 20, 2022)MoMA has released few details on its plans for the structure to replace the folk-art building.
— “MoMA tear-down,” Wall Street Journal (Apr. 11, 2013)NATO’s military organization encompasses a complete system of commands for possible wartime use.
— “North Atlantic Treaty Organization,” Encyclopedia Britannica (Accessed Feb. 11, 2022)
And in these examples, we see how the is often used before an initialism if it would be used with the full form.
The BBC is the most widely used source of news in the UK.
— “The BBC is under scrutiny,” Reuters Institute (Feb. 28, 2020)Over the course of its history, the USA has accrued all manner of notable distinctions.
— “The US: One nation, full of amazing things including these 56 incredible facts, statistics,” USA Today (Mar. 6, 2020)
Established usage may dictate that the article the be omitted before an initialism, as seen in the following examples.
And while use of the article the depends on convention and accepted usage, use of a or an depends on how an abbreviation is pronounced (a NATO official but an NBA player). Read more in this article on whether to use a or an with an abbreviation.