Dropping the second "the" in sentences: the X and the Y vs. the X and Y?

Question

Is there any difference between these two examples? 1. (Both) the Senate and the House of Representatives are legislative bodies. 2. (Both) the Senate and House of Representatives are legislative bodies.Is dropping the second "the" correct form? Do the two examples have the same meaning, making it but a stylistic choice?What about in these two examples: 3. (Both) the Olympic and the Paralympic Games... 4. (Both) the Olympic and Paralympic Games...

Answer 1

Both the double/triple 'the' or the single 'the' only used on the first item in a list are grammatically correct; the difference is simply a matter of taste. The only times when one might be recommended over the other is if:

1) the author/editor is trying to save space (in a newspaper column, for example) or if the author is working hard to avoid any repetition whatsoever

2) the listed items are especially long, thus leaving the original 'the' quite far away from the next listed item(s)

3) the author is using 'the' as a strengthener meaning 'the one and only'