Native Spanish speakers

[klmama]

Back in the dark ages, I was taught to use a lower case definite article with certain countries:  los Estados Unidos, el Uruguay, la Argentina, etc.   I have a college text published in 2005 (Puntos de Partida) which includes them, but I've seen in several high school texts that they are omitted.  Is that just one more example of incorrect language skills being taught via high school texts, or are the articles no longer required in "proper" Spanish?  I looked online at some newspapers, which didn't use them, but then I wondered if Spanish-language newspapers have tried to simplify language the way English-language papers have. 

 

Thank you in advance for your input.

 

 

[MyLittleBears]

The way you've listed them is correct. It is the way I learned them. Not sure why they would have changed.

[Mabelen]

In general both forms are acceptable. It is a bit a matter of preference. If you want to dig deeper, please read the link:

 

http://www.fundeu.es/noticia/el-alcazar-de-la-lengua-el-uso-del-articulo-en-los-nombres-de-paises-4464/

[klmama]

¡Muchas gracias!  :001_smile: