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Why do they not say “The Baby”

Why use “the” for oceans/seas/rivers etc. but not lakes?Why is there no article in “The Child is father of the man”?Why isn’t the definite article used in “The commission commanded that work […] should cease”?Why no “the” or “a” here?Which is right and why: Why do people go (to zoos/to zoo/to the zoo)?Why the zero article in “in daily life” and “became pointless talking”?“I saw Sue in town yesterday, but she didn't see me.” Why is there no article before “town”?Why is it “time of day” but “hour of the day”?Why is the article omitted before “climate change”?Why isn't there any article in the expression “vary from school to school”?

.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;

5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkXnhlCkVPM

In this video he says "put baby in" and not "put the baby in"
Also, in other baby type videos they say "place baby inside" or "now you can see that baby and mom are happy"

There is no "the baby" or "the baby's mom" or "the mom".

The video is one example of many. I asked someone who said it is something to do with the agenda of keeping people happy and not offended by mentioning a gender. I don't think this is true though.

zero-article

share|improve this question

edited 5 hours ago

Matt E. Эллен♦

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asked 9 hours ago

TheBlackBenzKidTheBlackBenzKid

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• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  People frequently don't speak in a way that would be considered grammatical if the same words were used in writing.
  
  – Jason Bassford
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  they aren’t saying “put baby in” they’re saying, “put Baby in.” :-)
  
  – Jim
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Just pointing out that this kind of usage is much more common in British English than American. It's got nothing to do with gender politics, this has been very common usage in British English for decades if not longer.
  
  – barbecue
  53 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  English articles don't have gender - how would "the baby" indicate a gender? Which one would it indicate?
  
  – Blorgbeard
  24 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkXnhlCkVPM

In this video he says "put baby in" and not "put the baby in"
Also, in other baby type videos they say "place baby inside" or "now you can see that baby and mom are happy"

There is no "the baby" or "the baby's mom" or "the mom".

The video is one example of many. I asked someone who said it is something to do with the agenda of keeping people happy and not offended by mentioning a gender. I don't think this is true though.

zero-article

share|improve this question

edited 5 hours ago

Matt E. Эллен♦

25.7k1414 gold badges9090 silver badges153153 bronze badges

asked 9 hours ago

TheBlackBenzKidTheBlackBenzKid

13366 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  People frequently don't speak in a way that would be considered grammatical if the same words were used in writing.
  
  – Jason Bassford
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  they aren’t saying “put baby in” they’re saying, “put Baby in.” :-)
  
  – Jim
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Just pointing out that this kind of usage is much more common in British English than American. It's got nothing to do with gender politics, this has been very common usage in British English for decades if not longer.
  
  – barbecue
  53 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  English articles don't have gender - how would "the baby" indicate a gender? Which one would it indicate?
  
  – Blorgbeard
  24 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkXnhlCkVPM

In this video he says "put baby in" and not "put the baby in"
Also, in other baby type videos they say "place baby inside" or "now you can see that baby and mom are happy"

There is no "the baby" or "the baby's mom" or "the mom".

The video is one example of many. I asked someone who said it is something to do with the agenda of keeping people happy and not offended by mentioning a gender. I don't think this is true though.

zero-article

share|improve this question

edited 5 hours ago

Matt E. Эллен♦

25.7k1414 gold badges9090 silver badges153153 bronze badges

asked 9 hours ago

TheBlackBenzKidTheBlackBenzKid

13366 bronze badges

share|improve this question

edited 5 hours ago

Matt E. Эллен♦

25.7k1414 gold badges9090 silver badges153153 bronze badges

asked 9 hours ago

TheBlackBenzKidTheBlackBenzKid

13366 bronze badges

share|improve this question

edited 5 hours ago

Matt E. Эллен♦

25.7k1414 gold badges9090 silver badges153153 bronze badges

asked 9 hours ago

TheBlackBenzKidTheBlackBenzKid

13366 bronze badges

edited 5 hours ago

Matt E. Эллен♦

25.7k1414 gold badges9090 silver badges153153 bronze badges

edited 5 hours ago

Matt E. Эллен♦

25.7k1414 gold badges9090 silver badges153153 bronze badges

asked 9 hours ago

TheBlackBenzKidTheBlackBenzKid

13366 bronze badges

asked 9 hours ago

TheBlackBenzKidTheBlackBenzKid

13366 bronze badges

2 Answers
2

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oldest

votes

5

'Baby' and 'Mom' are being used as substitutes for names, just as you might say to a small child 'Where's Mommy?' rather than 'Where is your mother?'

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

Kate BuntingKate Bunting

7,29633 gold badges1515 silver badges1919 bronze badges

add a comment | 

3

Saying just 'baby' or just 'mom' is using those words as names.

Using 'the' in front of the other person is like using the third person for yourself. Without 'the' it's like you're using their first name as though it is 'Baby'. It sounds weird and is probably weirder sounding than using 'the', because 'baby' is a weird name for someone). But it is the way to refer to babies in these situations.

I don't think it is transferable to other situations. For example, you don't usually say 'Boxer then plants his fist in Opponent's jawbone'

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

MitchMitch

53.6k1616 gold badges108108 silver badges225225 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  My 16 year-old is called "Baby" in the family as she is the youngest, just as her mother is called "Baby" by her mother still, even though she is past 50...so I don't think it sounds weird. Also, do you remember "Dirty Dancing"?
  
  – Cascabel
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Cascabel Yes, of course. But in the specific context of the OP, it is definitely strange sounding.
  
  – Mitch
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I guess it depends on the relationship of the speaker to the little tike.;) I have to confess I was to lazy to go off-page and listen the the sound bite.
  
  – Cascabel
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This wording provides a way to personalize the infant without having to know a name. It's a way of taking specific instructions like you would give to a person you know, and generalizing them for a larger audience, while still retaining a sense of individuality. Each audience member can substitute their own baby everywhere the narrator says "Baby." It's also friendlier and less detached, which is good in promotional materials.
  
  – barbecue
  50 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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5

'Baby' and 'Mom' are being used as substitutes for names, just as you might say to a small child 'Where's Mommy?' rather than 'Where is your mother?'

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

Kate BuntingKate Bunting

7,29633 gold badges1515 silver badges1919 bronze badges

add a comment | 

5

'Baby' and 'Mom' are being used as substitutes for names, just as you might say to a small child 'Where's Mommy?' rather than 'Where is your mother?'

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

Kate BuntingKate Bunting

7,29633 gold badges1515 silver badges1919 bronze badges

add a comment | 

'Baby' and 'Mom' are being used as substitutes for names, just as you might say to a small child 'Where's Mommy?' rather than 'Where is your mother?'

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

Kate BuntingKate Bunting

7,29633 gold badges1515 silver badges1919 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

Kate BuntingKate Bunting

7,29633 gold badges1515 silver badges1919 bronze badges

answered 9 hours ago

Kate BuntingKate Bunting

7,29633 gold badges1515 silver badges1919 bronze badges

answered 9 hours ago

Kate BuntingKate Bunting

7,29633 gold badges1515 silver badges1919 bronze badges

3

Saying just 'baby' or just 'mom' is using those words as names.

Using 'the' in front of the other person is like using the third person for yourself. Without 'the' it's like you're using their first name as though it is 'Baby'. It sounds weird and is probably weirder sounding than using 'the', because 'baby' is a weird name for someone). But it is the way to refer to babies in these situations.

I don't think it is transferable to other situations. For example, you don't usually say 'Boxer then plants his fist in Opponent's jawbone'

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

MitchMitch

53.6k1616 gold badges108108 silver badges225225 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  My 16 year-old is called "Baby" in the family as she is the youngest, just as her mother is called "Baby" by her mother still, even though she is past 50...so I don't think it sounds weird. Also, do you remember "Dirty Dancing"?
  
  – Cascabel
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Cascabel Yes, of course. But in the specific context of the OP, it is definitely strange sounding.
  
  – Mitch
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I guess it depends on the relationship of the speaker to the little tike.;) I have to confess I was to lazy to go off-page and listen the the sound bite.
  
  – Cascabel
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This wording provides a way to personalize the infant without having to know a name. It's a way of taking specific instructions like you would give to a person you know, and generalizing them for a larger audience, while still retaining a sense of individuality. Each audience member can substitute their own baby everywhere the narrator says "Baby." It's also friendlier and less detached, which is good in promotional materials.
  
  – barbecue
  50 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

Saying just 'baby' or just 'mom' is using those words as names.

Using 'the' in front of the other person is like using the third person for yourself. Without 'the' it's like you're using their first name as though it is 'Baby'. It sounds weird and is probably weirder sounding than using 'the', because 'baby' is a weird name for someone). But it is the way to refer to babies in these situations.

I don't think it is transferable to other situations. For example, you don't usually say 'Boxer then plants his fist in Opponent's jawbone'

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

MitchMitch

53.6k1616 gold badges108108 silver badges225225 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  My 16 year-old is called "Baby" in the family as she is the youngest, just as her mother is called "Baby" by her mother still, even though she is past 50...so I don't think it sounds weird. Also, do you remember "Dirty Dancing"?
  
  – Cascabel
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Cascabel Yes, of course. But in the specific context of the OP, it is definitely strange sounding.
  
  – Mitch
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I guess it depends on the relationship of the speaker to the little tike.;) I have to confess I was to lazy to go off-page and listen the the sound bite.
  
  – Cascabel
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This wording provides a way to personalize the infant without having to know a name. It's a way of taking specific instructions like you would give to a person you know, and generalizing them for a larger audience, while still retaining a sense of individuality. Each audience member can substitute their own baby everywhere the narrator says "Baby." It's also friendlier and less detached, which is good in promotional materials.
  
  – barbecue
  50 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Saying just 'baby' or just 'mom' is using those words as names.

Using 'the' in front of the other person is like using the third person for yourself. Without 'the' it's like you're using their first name as though it is 'Baby'. It sounds weird and is probably weirder sounding than using 'the', because 'baby' is a weird name for someone). But it is the way to refer to babies in these situations.

I don't think it is transferable to other situations. For example, you don't usually say 'Boxer then plants his fist in Opponent's jawbone'

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

MitchMitch

53.6k1616 gold badges108108 silver badges225225 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

MitchMitch

53.6k1616 gold badges108108 silver badges225225 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

MitchMitch

53.6k1616 gold badges108108 silver badges225225 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

MitchMitch

53.6k1616 gold badges108108 silver badges225225 bronze badges