ISO 10241:1992 (International Terminology Standards — Preparation and Layout) is a basic standard which prescribes a uniform method for drafting the standard glossaries known as ISO terminology standards. Among other problems with ISO 10241 is a clause which generally prohibits the use of articles at the beginning of definitions. Here the author identifies two specific reasons why English definitions should begin with articles. They are the enormous precedent for this practice throughout the English language and the semantic precision that is lost when articles are missing. The author maintains that there is no place in ISO for a rule that forces English or any other language into violation of its semantic precision and norms of usage.