"The Definite Article: Acknowledging 'The' in Index Entries,"
Glenda Browne, The Indexer, vol. 22, no. 3 April 2001, pp. 119-22.

The Ig Nobel prizes are awarded for "Research that makes people LAUGH then THINK"

The 2007 Ig Nobel Literature Prize was been awarded to Glenda Browne of Blaxland, Blue Mountains, Australia, for her study of the word "the" -- and of the many ways it causes problems for anyone who tries to put things into alphabetical order.

The article may be viewed here Indexer, vol. 22, no. 3

For more info see www.improbable.com