a/the/no article, A computer is a

Question

I am struggling with English articles. Do these two sentences mean the same?

a) A computer is a useful machine in graphic design.

b) The computer is a useful machine in graphic design. (meaning all computers as a group, not one specific computer)

'A computer' is OK, and 'the computer' is also OK, as explained here — Michael Harvey, Feb 26 '23 at 20:05
Does this answer your question? article usage, He invented THE slide rule — elluser, Feb 26 '23 at 20:29
Better than either would be "Computers are useful machines in graphic design" — James K, Feb 26 '23 at 21:11
@JamesK: It's neither better nor worse. "The computer is..." or "Computers are..." are both 100% equivalent for this purpose. "A computer is..." changes the feel of the sentence a tiny bit, but it's still 100% fine. — ShadowRanger, Feb 27 '23 at 12:22

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 26 '23 at 21:57

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There is one context where a/the have the same meaning.

Bear in mind, that generally speaking, those mean the same thing.

HOWEVER, using the like that is considered formal English:

The dog is a noble beast.

I'll repeat that: generalities in English are usually expressed with the determiner a or a plural noun.

answered Feb 26 '23 at 21:57

Lambie

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If you reversed the first two phrasings in your final set of three, they'd be in rising order of "formality". – FumbleFingers Feb 26 '23 at 23:03
@FumbleFingers I disagree with you. – Lambie Feb 26 '23 at 23:43
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The guy down the pub probably wouldn't say his dog was a "noble beast" anyway, so we're already in a relatively raised register. But imho A pig is a dirty animal is a lot more "formal / declamatory" than Pigs are dirty animals in the context of "pub talk". – FumbleFingers Feb 27 '23 at 11:36
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@FumbleFingers Really, pub talk? How about: two Cambridge or Oxford professors waxing lyrical over a whiskey? – Lambie Feb 27 '23 at 15:26

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