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Domain name: with or without the "the"?

by Eduard
22 replies
I’m buying a new domain for a new blog I’m starting. The name of the blog will be in the form: “The” + X, as in The Art of Success (just an example).

Should the domain name be “The” + X or just X without “the” at the beginning? As in: theartofcuccess.com or artofsuccess.com? Both domains in my case are available.

Personally, I don’t like domain names that start with “the”, plus it would make the domain name 25 characters long vs. 22. But I also think it’s a good idea for the domain name to replicate the blog name exactly.

Thoughts, ideas?

Edit: it hit me that I could also remove the "the" from the blog name for a perfect match, but doesn't that sound weird from a language and grammar perspective? Is just "Art of Success" with no article grammatically correct?
#domain
  • Profile picture of the author sirtiman
    If don't need "the", I mean x is available, just take it.
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  • Profile picture of the author nrmillions
    domain is better without the "the" but it should match the name of your blog. dont make your domain artofsuccess.com and call your blog The Art of Success. if you called your blog The Art of Success and use theartofsuccess.com as the domain then go ahead and register artofsuccess.com to use as a redirect.
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  • Profile picture of the author AMiRU
    Without the "the" is better I guess, facebook used to be thefacebook but they remove the "the"..
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  • Profile picture of the author Eduard
    Note: it hit me that I could also remove the "the" from the blog name for a perfect match, but doesn't that sound weird from a language and grammar perspective? Is just "Art of Success" with no article grammatically correct?
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  • Profile picture of the author paul_1
    As much as possible you would like to stay within the 3 word limit for a domain... Art of Success is perfect... register it now before someone else does...
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    • Profile picture of the author aderra
      Banned
      Having "the" at the beginning makes it more difficult to read each word individually. Besides adding a word, I don't think most people expect "the" at the beginning. When you know how your domain should read, it's a challenge to be objective about how it might be perceived by a stranger glancing at it. It's better to start with a word that isn't non-descript.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bob Ford
    If the name of your blog is "The Art of Success" then I'd suggest using the "the" in the domain. Think of it this way; "The" sets your blog apart from just any old art of success. Just plain "Art of Success" is a very generic phrase. But in the case of facebook, there was no facebook before Zuckerberg, so facebook was always just facebook. In that case the word "the" would be superfluous, just like it would be with "the" Google, or "the" Ebay, etc.

    BF
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  • Profile picture of the author Danny Cutts
    buy both.... problem solved :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    There is no "one size fits all". In most cases, you should not include the word "the" if it is not necessary. A domain name is just that - a name. It's not supposed to be a grammatically correct sentence. Only use "the" if it is an important part of the name.
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  • Profile picture of the author mnov5534
    If you can call your blog just "Art of Success" without The and it still makes sense, then go for that. The shorter the better.

    As others have said, if both are available buy both and redirect the one you don't want to use to the primary one, at least there's one less option for any competitor to take and get one up on you down the track!
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  • Profile picture of the author Harvey M
    Really depends on the domain (whether it sounds right) and whether the 'the' makes a lucrative domain suddenly available or not.
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  • Profile picture of the author Green Moon
    I agree with Gene and Harvey -- we can't really say without seeing the name. I suspect that the name would be better without the "The" but if it sounds odd without it, then if you keep it in the name of the blog, I personally would keep it in the domain name, too.

    However, I notice that THE Ohio State University does not use tosu.edu; it's just osu.edu.
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  • Profile picture of the author lapeoro
    I suggest you to take 'x' directly instead of the +x.For domain names articles are not needed and there is no need in considering the grammar perspective.

    Go with 'x' directly.
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  • Profile picture of the author icegin
    It's really your choice. Personally, I would include "the" in the domain name and title simply because I think it sounds better that way but that's just me. Like others have suggested, if you have money to spare you can always buy both domain names and have one redirect to your main site.
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  • Profile picture of the author Harvey M
    For example, one of the biggest contributing factors to Facebook's success was removing the 'The'.
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  • Profile picture of the author supershoesclub
    Due to relevant keywords option for the site,I think it is better not to take "the" with domain name. Thus it would be helpful to rank the domain keywords well. coz one one will use "the" in common searches and it will make the domain name longer and not easy to remember.
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  • Profile picture of the author megawarrior
    Either buy both or take the one without the "the". Artofsuccess.com reads better than theartofsuccess.com.
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  • Profile picture of the author julesw
    I think the facebook is different the word 'the' just doesnt fit the word facebook that comfortably ..

    I think you should use the domain with The..
    plenty of examples like 'the video boss' 'the rise to the top', the onion that work fine with the 'the' word. Redirect the other one to the 'the' one.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Brian
    "drop the the" - Sean Parker
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  • Profile picture of the author philx
    without "the" for sure
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  • Profile picture of the author GeraldNitram
    I'd go with the one with out the "the" article as well. Danny Cutts' suggestion's also good. If you can buy both domains, then go for it. You just have to redirect the clicks going to the domain you didn't choose to the one you chose.
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    • Profile picture of the author Akin Alabi
      Doesnt matter.

      Your contents should matter more.

      Does anyone remember a certain thegaryhalbertletter.com?

      Years after his death, the contents on his site remain a reference point.
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