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Doug Sherman Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
"a" vs "an"
Okay, I know this one should be easy and I'm actually not as grammatically ignorant as the title of this post would imply (contrary to the opinion of my wife!). However, the proper use of "a" and "an" comes up from time-to-time in our office with regards to words that are abbreviated and I've had little success with my own opinion on the matter.
Anyway, if I write a sentence, for example, using the term "solid state relay", I would say "a solid state relay". However, this term is frequently abbreviated as "SSR", which is then usually written as "an SSR" as in "if you have an SSR, then blah blah blah...".
I would think that it should still remain "if you have a SSR, then blah blah blah...", even if it doesn't roll of the tongue as smoothly.
HELP!! This is one of those things that means absolutely nothing to most people with a life, but bothers me in the wee hours of the night!
Anyway, if I write a sentence, for example, using the term "solid state relay", I would say "a solid state relay". However, this term is frequently abbreviated as "SSR", which is then usually written as "an SSR" as in "if you have an SSR, then blah blah blah...".
I would think that it should still remain "if you have a SSR, then blah blah blah...", even if it doesn't roll of the tongue as smoothly.
HELP!! This is one of those things that means absolutely nothing to most people with a life, but bothers me in the wee hours of the night!
Top answer
Sorry, Doug, I can't back you up on this one. " The whole point of the a/an distinction is to help things roll off the tongue easily.
- Sorry, Doug, I can't back you up on this one.
- " The whole point of the a/an distinction is to help things roll off the tongue easily.
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2 Answers
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Sorry, Doug, I can't back you up on this one.
"Solid State Relay" begins with a consonant sound (sss), so it's preceded by "a."
"SSR" begins with a vowel sound (eh), so it's preceded by "an."
The whole point of the a/an distinction is to help things roll off the tongue easily.
"Solid State Relay" begins with a consonant sound (sss), so it's preceded by "a."
"SSR" begins with a vowel sound (eh), so it's preceded by "an."
The whole point of the a/an distinction is to help things roll off the tongue easily.
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Thanks Khoff! I'm okay with being wrong (I'm good at it) as long as I learn something from it!
Now I know!!
Now I know!!
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