Thread: Articles with program names.

I was wondering whether I shoulde use article with program names.
For example, which one is correct:

1) I feed data to the Excel.
vs.
2) I feed data to Excel.

Usually, no articles with names, it doesn't matter whether they are people's names or names of programs. Only use an article if the name refers to one of many items sharing the same name: 'I have a Mercedes'.

Robin

Originally Posted by Ramil

I was wondering whether I shoulde use article with program names.
For example, which one is correct:

1) I feed data to the Excel.
vs.
2) I feed data to Excel.

Ramil... just as a side note here, "I" would not use the expression "feed data to." I would say, "enter data into." Actually, I personally would not use the word "data" at all, but that is me. I would use... information, numbers, figures...

Originally Posted by rockzmom

Originally Posted by Ramil

I was wondering whether I shoulde use article with program names.
For example, which one is correct:

1) I feed data to the Excel.
vs.
2) I feed data to Excel.

Ramil... just as a side note here, "I" would not use the expression "feed data to." I would say, "enter data into." Actually, I personally would not use the word "data" at all, but that is me. I would use... information, numbers, figures...

rockzmom, it's a programmer's slang. They will say 'feed data', 'eat memory', etc. I wouldn't use it in normal life either, but I quoted a real phrase from another forum, sorry.

Originally Posted by rockzmom

Ramil... just as a side note here, "I" would not use the expression "feed data to." I would say, "enter data into." Actually, I personally would not use the word "data" at all, but that is me. I would use... information, numbers, figures...

If you have a program generating data, you can feed that data into another program. You wouldn't say 'enter' in this context because there is no human interaction involved. It's the same usage of 'feed' as in 'cable feed' for instance.

Robin

You should say "I am working in Excel. Right now I am entering some data into Excel"

But if you are talking about a financial system at your company, you might say: "I entered some data into the finance system" Or: "I was working in the finance system, entering some data....

If "the finance system" has a name that everyone uses, for example "Oracle" or some acronym, then there is NO article and you would say: I fed data into Oracle Or, "I was working in Oracle and entered some data...."

Unfortunately I can't explain why it is this way, sorry!!! Maybe someone else can? But the examples that I gave are right.

Originally Posted by Johanna

Unfortunately I can't explain why it is this way, sorry!!! Maybe someone else can? But the examples that I gave are right.

...because you don't use articles with proper names. You are not "a Johanna" or "the Johanna", just "Johanna". (unless you are intentionally misusing the rules to be funny or something)

Excel is a proper noun. I give data to Excel. I get data from Excel.

My computer is a common noun. I give data to a/the/my computer.

I am in the tech field, usually we would say "I imported the data into excel", "I entered the data into excel", or "I inputted the data into excel". It would be tech slang to say "I fed the data into excel" which is perfectly fine also as long as you use it correctly.

Never use "the" in front of proper names like "Excel".

How do you pronounce "Excel"? Just like the verb, [ik'sel]?

Originally Posted by E-learner

How do you pronounce "Excel"? Just like the verb, [ik'sel]?

Ehk-Sel

Its similar to "accelerate" or "exceed".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu764Eef8TE

In that youtube he uses the word "excel" a few time after :13.

Originally Posted by E-learner

How do you pronounce "Excel"? Just like the verb, [ik'sel]?

Lotus OR Super Calc!

Originally Posted by Zombie Acorn

Its similar to "accelerate" or "exceed".

It means the stress on the second syllable. The stress in the clip, however, is not consistent. Sometimes it's on the second syllable, sometimes on the first or possibly on both. Anything goes?

[quote=E-learner]

Originally Posted by "Zombie Acorn":3ewa5q0z

Its similar to "accelerate" or "exceed".

It means the stress on the second syllable. The stress in the clip, however, is not consistent. Sometimes it's on the second syllable, sometimes on the first or possibly on both. Anything goes?[/quote:3ewa5q0z]

I think this is one word where its not real definitive which syllable gets a stress. If you can pronounce the letter "X" in English and then pronounced a letter "L" right after it, it sounds correct.

EX-EL

Originally Posted by Zombie Acorn

I am in the tech field, usually we would say "I imported the data into excel", "I entered the data into excel", or "I inputted the data into excel". It would be tech slang to say "I fed the data into excel" which is perfectly fine also as long as you use it correctly.

Never use "the" in front of proper names like "Excel".

True, I totally forgot that "fed data" is slang or at least jargon. (I am in IT too) Nice with a fellow geek, lol.

In my opinion it's not suitable to use slang in a foreign language until you are seriously fluent and confident about the language. (I learnt this the HARD way myself, in English. When in doubt, do NOT use slang... Trust me! )
I shouldn't have given a slang expression, sorry!

Originally Posted by rockzmom

Originally Posted by E-learner

How do you pronounce "Excel"? Just like the verb, [ik'sel]?

Lotus OR Super Calc!

SPSS

Originally Posted by Johanna

Originally Posted by Zombie Acorn

I am in the tech field, usually we would say "I imported the data into excel", "I entered the data into excel", or "I inputted the data into excel". It would be tech slang to say "I fed the data into excel" which is perfectly fine also as long as you use it correctly.

Never use "the" in front of proper names like "Excel".

True, I totally forgot that "fed data" is slang or at least jargon. (I am in IT too) Nice with a fellow geek, lol.

In my opinion it's not suitable to use slang in a foreign language until you are seriously fluent and confident about the language. (I learnt this the HARD way myself, in English. When in doubt, do NOT use slang... Trust me! )
I shouldn't have given a slang expression, sorry!

haha, I have to agree here, I would never try to use slang in a foreign language until I was fully fluent. Too much of a chance of everyone in the room looking at you like: what the hell did he just say?