"An" average of vs. "The" average of
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Music by Eric Matyas
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Track title: Luau
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Chapters
00:00 &Quot;An&Quot; Average Of Vs. &Quot;The&Quot; Average Of
00:58 Accepted Answer Score 4
01:41 Thank you
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#avk47
Hire the world's top talent on demand or became one of them at Toptal: https://topt.al/25cXVn
and get $2,000 discount on your first invoice
--------------------------------------------------
Music by Eric Matyas
https://www.soundimage.org
Track title: Luau
--
Chapters
00:00 &Quot;An&Quot; Average Of Vs. &Quot;The&Quot; Average Of
00:58 Accepted Answer Score 4
01:41 Thank you
--
Full question
https://english.stackexchange.com/questi...
--
Content licensed under CC BY-SA
https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/lice...
--
Tags
#differences #articles #definitearticles #prepositionalphrases
#avk47
ACCEPTED ANSWER
Score 4
You have an (or a) average, maximum, minimum, or other group-based calculation of something, while you take (or calculate) the average, maximum, or minimum.
Thus your samples 1, 3, and 5 are correct, but not 2, 4, or 6.
(To clarify, as per the comments: In the example sentences, the average is a property that is already known, and it is being treated grammatically in the same way as a generic, indefinite possession and thus can take the indefinite article 'a'. If the average is an unknown number that needs to be determined, then you are taking or calculating it, and then it is a specific feature and should be referred to with the definite article 'the'.)