Could you explain **why** is this news report using "**sift signal from noise**" instead of "**sift the signal from the noise**"? According to some native speakers, it is utterly incorrect to avoid "the" because the word "signal" is countable (but "noise" isn't, so should "noise" not be preceded by "the"...?). According to others, "the" should only be used if it is specific. What is the rule for good here? Thanks.

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> Part of America's failure was an improper ability to **sift signal from noise** and to disseminate this information bureaucratically.
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<https://asiatimes.com/2022/12/pearl-harbor-redux-us-risks-repeating-strategic-errors/>