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Guest Posted 21 years ago
Science & IT

Acronyms and the use of 'a' vs. 'an'

0 Working in the technology industry, I end up using a lot of acronyms. The old schoolhouse rules of "'a' before a constanant except specific exceptions" doesn't seem to sound right in some cases. 02br
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00For instance, "What is a XML?" vs. "What is an XML?". It seems that "What is a PSP?" is correct, but "What is a FPU?" seems awkward. 02br
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00Is there a diffinitive rule for these kinds of scenarios? 0-
  

Top answer

0 Yes it is a before a consonant or an before a vowel - but the rule is appled to a consonant 01i 00sound02i 00 or vowel 01i 00sound02i 00. 02br 02br 00If you think about XML, even though it starts with a consonant, it actually starts with the sound of e( ex), a vowel, so use 'an. 02br 02br 00Again, looking at FPU, you can hear that it starts with 'ef', an e sound, so it uses an.

— Nona the brit

  • 0 Yes it is a before a consonant or an before a vowel - but the rule is appled to a consonant 01i 00sound02i 00 or vowel 01i 00sound02i 00.
  • 02br 02br 00If you think about XML, even though it starts with a consonant, it actually starts with the sound of e( ex), a vowel, so use 'an.
  • 02br 02br 00Again, looking at FPU, you can hear that it starts with 'ef', an e sound, so it uses an.
  • 02br 02br 00You have been following the correct rule all along subconsciously.
  • Your instincts are correct.
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6 Answers
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0 Yes it is a before a consonant or an before a vowel - but the rule is appled to a consonant 01i00sound02i00 or vowel 01i00sound02i00. 02br
02br
00If you think about XML, even though it starts with a consonant, it actually starts with the sound of e( ex), a vowel, so use 'an. 02br
02br
00Again, looking at FPU,
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nona's comment was superb.

Even in india, there are many, who still do not know that a consonant's sound is taken as a vowel, when it comes to 'a' or 'an'.

i think this is a global issue and knowing this will really help in avoiding mistakes.
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i agree with nona! very superb!
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No man its only 'taken for a vowel' when it starts with a vowel in pronunciation (when read abc-style). So 'p' is pronounced as 'pee' (consonant), 's' is 'ess' (vowel), 'k' is 'kay' and 't' is 'tee' (consonants). Just read the abbreviation as you would read it aloud.
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I knew that was right I just couldn't figure out why for the life of me. Then again it's not like I gave it much thought.

Thank you!
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according to style guides, use the 'sound' of the first letter (F sounds like 'eff', hence use an, since it 'eff' begins with a vowel, where as P's sound does not)
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