"The"

[Aquarius]

From a grammar standpoint, I think the difference is in whether you're referring to it as a thing, versus a place and/or the collection of hardware, personnel, and everything else it comprises. THE Enterprise is a ship that can go up to warp five. However, my home is on Enterprise--because likewise, I don't live in THE Michigan, outside THE Detroit.

"Kirk to Enterprise" is either an example of the latter, or it's a simple case of clipping for the sake of efficiency/sounding more official and military on TV.

Really, though, I suppose the way to answer what's the "right" way is to ask someone in the navy what is the proper way to refer to a ship and in what context.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I seem to recall Gene Roddenberry not including "the" several times in his ST:TMP novelization.

Then, in ST II, Khan says, "More than a match for poor Enterprise."

 

[G2309]

People talk like that all the time especially with proper nouns.

 

[Dick_Valentine]

Well I can only speak from personal experience, but if I was in the Navy and had been posted to the actual real life Enterprise then I'd be telling my friends and family I'd be serving on The Enterprise rather than just serving on Enterprise.

When using the Communicator, yeah "Picard to Enterprise" sounds right, one name to the other, but when flying into the ship via shuttle?
"That's our ship, that's The Enterprise!" sounds so much better to my ears.

As I say, maybe because I'm a Brit used to hearing British English and not adapting to the subtle differences in American English.

 

[T'Girl]

Then, in ST II, Khan says, "More than a match for poor Enterprise."

Khan says, "More than a match for poor The Enterprise."

 

[Dick_Valentine]

Then, in ST II, Khan says, "More than a match for poor Enterprise."

Khan says, "More than a match for poor The Enterprise."

In that sentence, the "the" should go before the Poor

You don't say, "This is Captain Kirk from Starship Enterprise" as I say...

 

[Anji]

Dropping the "The" was really, really annoying. It is "The" Enterprise because it is a proper noun.

But then I wouldn't expect the writers to know basic English because, well, they couldn't even construct a basic plot line.

 

[Skywalker]

You don't seem to know much about naval parlance. Calling the ship Enterprise is actually more accurate than calling it the Enterprise.

 

[The_Baroness]

You don't generally put "The" in front of a noun....my name is a noun, but you don't call me "The Andy"


...maybe I should start making people call me "The Andy"

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I'm certainly not the John.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Dropping the "The" was really, really annoying. It is "The" Enterprise because it is a proper noun.

But then I wouldn't expect the writers to know basic English because, well, they couldn't even construct a basic plot line.

Both are proper.

Gee, isn't one of the common complaints about Enterprise is that they used plots already used in previous shows? Your scatter shot technique seems to be collecting some collateral damage.

 

[Charlie Kelly]

This bugged me for ages too although I eventually got used to it. I think they may have made to change to distinguish it from the previous Enterprises and it actually worked for me. Despite it having the same name as Kirk's and Picard's ships it didn't *sound* the same if that makes sense. Also as already pointed out as the NX class ships were named after the space shuttles and NASA doesn’t use ‘the’.

 

[SFRabid]

Dropping the "The" was really, really annoying. ...

That is why they did it. TO annoy you.

 

[nightwind1]

When I was in the US Coast Guard, I was stationed aboard the USCGC Sundew (WLB-404). Sometimes we called her Sundew, sometimes we called her the Sundew. Didn't matter, there's no official way of saying it.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

"Enterprise" without the "the" is better.

 

[Broccoli]

It never really bugged me. I think "The Enterprise" and "Enterprise" both sound okay.

"The Voyager", however, sounds awkward to me.

 

[Aquarius]

When I was in the US Coast Guard, I was stationed aboard the USCGC Sundew (WLB-404). Sometimes we called her Sundew, sometimes we called her the Sundew. Didn't matter, there's no official way of saying it.

As a writer, I'd take the word of someone who's got real life experience over that of a grammarian, for the sake of authenticity. Sometimes even if there's a rule on what you're "supposed" to do, you want to be more concerned with what people actually do.

Also, Enterprise being a proper noun wouldn't be a reason to include "the." I don't go to THE Detroit. But I do go to THE city.

I think, if anyone is looking for a grammarian answer, you want to look up the uses and rules for the determiners themselves (the, a, an, etc.) rather than the nouns being determined.

 

[Dick_Valentine]

In the end, it's seemingly coming down to personal preference, but it is interesting how it is dividing opinion between those it is a big deal for one way or the other, and those who couldn't give a damn

It was literally the first thing that stuck out at me about the series when I started watching.
(The second was that they'd made going to warp effect worse by taking out the cool rubber band part)
It's funny how sometimes the "little" things become big things for some people and others couldn't give 2 hoots about them eh?