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Ok... this is a simple, silly question.  I have looked in the Gregg Reference manual and it didn't address this particular question so I thought I'd bring it to the "experts".  



 I thought I could remember someone somewhere (here or in my previous position) that there is a rule for using "an" vs "a" in front of abreviations.  For example:  Look in a MSP book  - or - Look in an MSP book.  I have always used "a" but someone told me before that there is a rule for this.  Does anyone know of such a thing or am I just day-dreaming now?  

CG.. I believe the rule is that if the abbreviation has a consonant sound use a (like a CPA)  if it is a vowel sound use an (an fob  (f pronounced "ef")



Hope that helps

what dedlered says is what I've always heard, and used.

Thanks y'all... That sounds about right, though I couldn't remember it to vocalize for another.  Appreciate the timely help.

Right out of 'The Professional Secretary's Handbook, Third Edition'

  a, an.  A is used before a word beinging with a consonant (a building) or a consonant sound (a university); an is used before a word beginning with a vowel (an employee) or a vowel sound (an hour).  A rather than an should be used before words like historial (a hysterical) unless the h is not pronounced (an herb).



one of those rules we all learned years ago and every once in awhile need to check out to see if we remember what we learned.



 

 

OCblnd... that's what the Gregg reference manual said too, but for some reason I thought there was a special rule for abreviations.  It's basically the same, but just not how I thought of it.

Hi all,

I believe I know the "rule" you are referring to: when deciding to use a or an before an abbeviation or acronym, it depends on whether you would normally pronounce the acronym, or if you would pronounce the word(s) the acronym stands for. For example: She is an HR specialist. (when reading this, if you would say, "she is an 'aiche-are' specialist," use an.  But, if you would say the above as "she is a human resources specialist," then you would use a.  Does that make sense? Another one: "I need an MSDS for this chemical" (if I would read this as an em-ess-dee-ess); but "I need a MSDS for this chemical" (if I would say 'material safety data sheet'). Hope this helps!

 

Perfect!  Now I'll remember that silly rule and not make the error I've done.  How'd you know it was MSDS that I was worrying with?  



Thanks to everyone for the help/refresher.

Hi again,

Just realized that I messed up my explanation of the rule, and the examples did not really support what I was trying to explain. The rule for using a or an with an acronym depends on whether the ACRONYM is pronounced as a word or as the invidual letters. (Hopefully, here's a better) example:  Do you have an SEP plan? or Do you have a SEP plan? .. If SEP is pronounced "sep," use a. But if SEP is pronounced "ess-ee-pea," use an.  Here's another one: a FEMA investigation or an FEMA investigation. If FEMA is pronounced as a word "feema," use a; if FEMA is pronounced "eff-ee-em-ay," use an. Sorry for the confusion, please disregard my earlier post!!

No confusion... matched what another poster put so I understood and it made lots of sense.  Must be because it's Friday.  



Wishing everyone a safe and happy weekend...