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Here's the opinion of Brusaw, Alred, and Oliu, (St. Martin's, 1996, 299):
"The choice between a and an depends on the sound rather than the letter
following the article. Use a before words beginning with a consonant sound
(a person, a happy person, a historical event). Use an before words
beginning with a vowel sound (an uncle, an hour). With abbreviations, use a
before initial letters having a consonant sound (a TWA flight). Use an
before initial letters having a vowel sound (an SLN report)."
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Hanvey" <jewahe -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2000 12:02 PM
Subject: A or An?
> I have a grammar question that has never been answered
> satisfactorily:
>
> Do you use a or an before an acronym that begins with
> a consonant, such as
>
> Fill out an FSA, or
> Fill out a FSA.
>
> The first seems correct to me, since "f" is spoken as
> if it begins with a vowel.
>
> What is standard?
>
> Thanks!
>
> =====
> Jeff Hanvey
> Memphis, TN
>
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