Talk:Euclid's Elements

Is there a standard convention regarding whether the book is referred to as "Elements" or as "the Elements"? For instance, would you say, "the first axiomitization of a mathematical theory appeared in Elements", or, "the first axiomitization of a mathematical theory appeared in the Elements"? I suppose you could always call it Euclid's Elements to avoid this distinction, but that seems cumbersome.Barry R. Smith 11:02, 6 April 2008 (CDT)

I don't think you'd ever say "in Elements". That leaves a choice between "in the Elements" & "in The Elements". Peter Jackson 17:06, 6 November 2008 (UTC)

My issue is that I don't see people write "Euclid's the Elements"Barry R. Smith 20:24, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

Yes, that's another form that's never used. So it would be a bit less illogical to say "the Elements" than "the Elements". There are probably other examples of books (& indeed musical & artistic works) that have either definite article or author's name but not both. Peter Jackson 12:16, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Eg one talks of "Bach's B Minor Mass" or "the B Minor Mass". Peter Jackson 15:09, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

The Elements of Euclid or The Elements or Euclid, note that the "The" is part of the title.

Never "the Elements" since in this case we would be talking about the book rather than the title of the book, The Elements. It takes the same space and sounds the same, but is more precise in the latter case. --Miguel Adérito Trigueira 07:28, 12 November 2008 (UTC)

But, as Barry pointed out above, you don't say "Euclid's the Elements", you say "Euclid's Elements". I don't think there's an entirely logical way of doing things that conforms to common usage. Peter Jackson 11:19, 12 November 2008 (UTC)