articles-a or the

[Haihao]

OK. *A point of diamond (alone) can never become a legitimate phrase. A difference between a phrase and a nonphrase is the difference.

[Skydegirl]

Hello Blue_Snow,

Here is the definite and indefinite articles http://www.english-test.net/lessons/16/index.html with explanations. Please read about it and hope you will understand more on how tu use this articles. It's very simple.

Let me know if you assimilate them.
Have a nice day.

[Alan]

Hi Skydegirl,

Thanks for promoting my article!

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Expatcat]

I hope this does not confuse the issue, but in diamond terminology, a point is a unit of measurement. One point is equal to 1/100 of a carat. If I were talking about the part of a cut diamond where it comes to a point, and I was using it figuratively, I would use the word tip.

He is as sharp as a/the tip of a diamond.

But if the context of the OP's sentence had anything to do with diamond technology, it could very well be "a point of diamond" or "a point of a diamond".

[Skydegirl]

Hi Alan,

While others people help me to improve my English, I hope to be useful too as long as I can.

It was nice to talk to you.

[Blue_Snow]

My problem here is not between a/an and the but between the two phrases A point of a diamond and A point of diamond. Anyway, thank you for your passion.

[Haihao]

[Expatcat]

Ok, how about this:

Two gemologists are in the lab. One is learning how to cut diamonds, the other is the teacher. The teacher says to the apprentice, "Here are several diamonds from which you can choose. I want you to cut/remove one point of a diamond."

[Skydegirl]

Ok, but here is talking about the articles a or the, like the post's title is. The only difference between the two phrases is the article in front of "point" which is modifying the meaning of the phrase. If you want to know more about diamonds search on google to find more details, altough I don't see anything else that you could reffer.

[Alan]

Hi,

I'm seriousy wondering what the point of this thread is!

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Skydegirl]

Good point Alan!

[Expatcat]

Point taken. If one wishes to discuss, take it to PM where no one else can benefit.

[Blue_Snow]

Yes. It's about a point or the point. The answer is a as it refers to a fraction. But now, between a diamond and diamond. That's completely a different topic.

[Goodboy]

Thanks to all of you