Newsgroups: sci.lang,alt.usage.english
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From: deb5@midway.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff)
Subject: Re: Proper use of 'a' and 'an' with acronyms?
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Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 03:14:08 GMT
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In article <31CDAAB8.2D5@spacelab.net>, chelsel  <chelsel@spacelab.net> wrote:
>Maybe I should have paid more attention in English class but I don't 
>remember this being covered.

	Any question that begins in such a fashion almost certainly belongs
on alt.usage.english rather than sci.lang.  Therefore, I have crossposted
the question there and I humbly request that a.u.eers remove sci.lang from
the Newsgroups: line in their follow-ups.

>What is the proper way to use 'a' and 'an' with an acronym.

	For the record, I agree with the previous respondent:  'a' before
consonant sounds, 'an' before vowel sounds.  No other considerations 
matter.

>For example, MFC (Microsoft Foundation Class).
>
>Original sentence: This is a Microsoft Foundation Class library
>
>W/ Acronym: This is a MFC library 
>  using 'a' here doesn't 'feel' right especially if in the persons
>  mind they read each letter individually 'm-f-c' instead of expanding
>  it to the full meaning.
>
>I've always substituted 'This is aN MFC library' because it 'sounds 
>better' to me.  Which one is correct?
>
>If you have any idea what I'm talking about, I'd like to see what you 
>have to say.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Cliff Helsel.


-- 
	 Daniel "Da" von Brighoff    /\          Dilettanten
	(deb5@midway.uchicago.edu)  /__\         erhebt Euch
				   /____\      gegen die Kunst!
