I am trying to write this sentence, but cannot decide if I should use a or the here:
It would be minutes before [a/the] slightly agitated Mrs.
Smith finally finds him in the crowd.
If the should be used here, is there any scenario where a can be added before a specific person's name? I remember seeing such usage before, but my memory could be wrong.
Best Answer
Logically it seems as if it should be the.
But there is a well known literary device, perfectly idiomatic, which places the indefinite article in that position. One would use it where one was introducing for the first time, to the reader/listener that Mrs Smith was slightly agitated.
So if the reader is already aware that Mrs Smith is slightly agitated I would use the, if they do not I would use a.