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[Closed] 'A' or 'an' when using acronyms?
Should you use the correct one for the letter you are using, or the word it represents?
For example, a thread I started I put 'an MTB', which is grammatically correct - unless people are reading mtb as mountain bike.
I don't suppose it matters too much, I'm just curious.
an MTB
+1
a MTB sounds weird
an ATB
+1
an-em-tee-bee
Ah, it only took 3 replies, but I was expecting it fasthaggis 😉
I don't suppose it matters too much, I'm just curious.
< is outraged >
Matters? Of course it matters!
The matter-age of grammar and syntax pedantry cannot be overstated. Same goes for the employment of insufficiently clear sentences...
For example, yesterday I noticed this sign on the sides of a MerseyTravel bus:
Child flat rate: £1.10
Well, I mused, that's pretty competitive, but I don't want my child flat. He looks better well rounded. Cue s****ing.
Yep, in my head I always phonetically pronounce the letters, not the full unabrevitated name. 'A MTB' would def irk me!!
Neither.
It's all to do with the sound of the word. If the start of the word has a vowel [u]sound[/u], it's 'an'. If not, 'a'.
So 'acronym' does indeed start with a vowel sound, so 'an'.
University starts with a vowel, but not a vowel sound (Y not being a vowel), so it's 'a' university.
And of course, MTB isn't an acronym. Unless you're foreign, or very pished. 😉
In my head I pronounce the word so for me it doesn't read correctly but as its the abreviation that is written and not the word, it's my problem therefore the 'an' would be correct.
It's all to do with the sound of the word. If the start of the word has a vowel sound, it's 'an'. If not, 'a'.
Yep!
Hence the trouble with "an MTB" - if you mentally read that as Em-Tee-Bee then "an" is correct, if you mentally expand it to "mountain bike" then "a" is correct.
Likewise pronunciation can confuse the issue: some accents use a very soft "h" sound so "an hotel" and "an history" makes sense when someone pronounces it in a London "Eer, where can I find an 'otel guv'nor?"
TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTRAh, it only took 3 replies, but I was expecting it fast-haggis
This is STW.
camo16 - MemberI don't suppose it matters too much, I'm just curious.
< is outraged >
Matters? Of course it matters!
The matter-age of grammar and syntax pedantry cannot be overstated.
Standards dear boy, standards.
An ATB, a MTB. Assuming MTB is an acronym for mountain bike. An mountain bike is all manner of wrong.
Yeah tucker got me there - not actually an Acronym 😉
It's all to do with the sound of the word. If the start of the word has a vowel sound, it's 'an'. If not, 'a'.Yep!
Hence the trouble with "an MTB" - if you mentally read that as Em-Tee-Bee then "an" is correct, if you mentally expand it to "mountain bike" then "a" is correct.
Strictly, isn't 'an MTB' correct, presuming that 'MTB' is a stand-alone word, whether or not your mind makes the leap to 'mountain bike'?
You'd say 'an SAS soldier', right? Even though it would be 'a special armed services soldier' in full...
guv'nor
Does anyone still say guv'nor?
* hopes this is the case *
A SAS Trooper.
*For full pedantry.
* Gives up and reverts to pointing at things and making chimp noises. *
An ATB, a MTB. Assuming MTB is an acronym for mountain bike. An mountain bike is all manner of wrong.
A fail.
wordnumb - Member* Gives up and reverts to pointing at things and making chimp noises. *
Thank you, genuine LOL at that one!
A[i][b]n[/b][/i] SAS Trooper.*For full pedantry.
FTFY 🙂
shall we talk about initialisms?
I always have this dilemma, and whilst I agree with the SAS example no one says "MTB" out loud (if they do then they're a buffoon and I don't wish to know them), so it's done purely for brevity in the written form, and as such could conceivably be either.