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There are so many novel usages of references, IDs, keys, codes:

If we substitute variable a in the equation (3) with string "ABC" at the address 0x801234 as pointed by Smith [SM2005] we might crash our database Prometheus located in the zone us-west-2.

We might fail test 3 in the trial AA5.

Please open book 2 paragraph 14 section 3.

I could not find grammar describing the topic, particular:

  • what part of speech is it? Aren't they determiners?
  • why does it come after the noun (street addresses usually use numbers as premodifiers, though we say November 7, 2021)?
  • as reference/label/code identify an entity I see no reason for use of definite article...
gavenkoa
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    Only some of us say "November seven". Others use "November the seventh" or "seventh of November". – Peter Jul 30 '21 at 09:17
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    There is no need of an article here: saying "in zone us-west-2" works fine. (But they're not determiners.) – Peter Shor Jul 30 '21 at 11:47
  • Dates are not really analogous. "Book 2" means the 2nd book of series. But "Novermber 7" doesn't mean the 7th November, it means the 7th day in November. – Barmar Aug 02 '21 at 18:34

2 Answers2

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Why does it come after the noun?
This English construction is called apposition

In particular, see "restrictive apposition". Two examples of this from the link are:

My friend Alice Smith likes jelly beans. – I have many friends, but I am restricting my statement to the one named Alice Smith.
He likes the television show The Simpsons. – There are many television shows, and he likes that particular one

All of your examples (except possibly "Smith [SM2005]") fit this construction.

equation (3) - There are many equations, this is a particular one.

our database Prometheus - There are many databases, this is a particular one.

I agree with Peter Shor: the definite article is not needed.

GEdgar
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If we substitute variable 'a' ((i) “'a'” is in apposition – or a post positional attributive proper noun - to “variable” and creates a proper noun phrase) in the equation (3) (ditto, with suitable changes = (adverbial phrase modifying “substitute")) with string "ABC" (ditto (i), with suitable changes - (adverbial phrase modifying “substitute")) at the address 0x801234 (ditto (i), with suitable changes) as pointed out by Smith [in] SM2005] (in SM2005 is an adverbial phrase) we might crash our database.

Prometheus located in the zone us-west-2. (Meaningless for insufficient context)

We might fail test 3 (ditto (i), with suitable changes) in the trial AA5 (ditto (i), with suitable changes).

Please open book 2 (ditto (i), with suitable changes) [at] page 14 (adverbial phrase modifying “open") [and refer to] section 3 [proper noun as object].

Greybeard
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