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Subject:Re: Use of A and AN From:"Brierley, Sean" <Brierley -at- QUODATA -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 3 Mar 1999 08:54:46 -0500
My rule of thumb sounds like the one you propose.
An NRA member. (National Rifle Association)
A HUD official. (Housing and Urban Development)
An EMT. (Emergency Medical Technician)
Sean
Of course, I would not get upset over someone else's consistently-applied
rule of thumb. For example, I have met several writers (USA) who prefer "an
HUD official"--but these folks also make the "h" in "herb" silent, go figure
<vbg>.
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: LYNDA KENNEDY [mailto:lyndak -at- NEWBRIDGE -dot- COM]
>>>Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 1999 8:11 AM
>>>To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
>>>Subject: Use of A and AN
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>Good morning,
>>>
>>>In our office we have 5 technical writers that are split on
>>>the use of A
>>>and AN prior to accronyms. Is there a rule of thumb
>>>regarding the use of
>>>either before accronyms? The argument is to use AN if the accronym
>>>begins with a vowel or a soft constant, such as N.
>>>Any ideas?
>>>
>>>Cheers,
>>>
>>>Lynda
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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