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A versus an - We are struggling with the use of a and an


Posted: Mar 14, 2014

I know when in doubt defer to what the physician prefers.  But suddenly we have one doctor replacing "an" with "a," and is just doesn't sound right.  I was always taught to us a when followed by a consonant and an when followed by a vowel. Apparently this is incorrect, the rule is a when followed by word that "sound" like a consonant and an when followed by words that "sound" like a vowel.  See the rule below:

  1. Citibank is a MNC Bank
  2. Citibank is an MNC Bank

The correct sentence is number 2.

The Rule

Use “a” when the following word begins with a consonant sound; use “an” when the following word begins with a vowel sound. What matters is how the following word is pronounced, not what it looks like. In the example sentence, “MNC” begins with a consonant, but it begins with the sound of the vowel “e,” since we would pronounce it as “em en see.”

What is your take on this.  Bottom line I will give the physician dictating what he prefers, but he is the only one in the 43 physicians in out pathology department making this distinction.  I've been doing this for 35 years and never encountered this.

And you dislike is because.......... - ?????

[ In Reply To ..]
No suggestion, just you dislike? Is this not a word help board?

There is someone who goes around - And Dislikes all the posts

[ In Reply To ..]
There is a person on here who dislikes all the posts. She (or he) just goes around to all the notes and hits "dislike."

I posted a note once about child cruelty and how wrong it was, and someone came around and disliked my note. Must have been someone who hated children. Or maybe she just hates everything, by the looks of it.

So, pay no mind.

yes, Word Help, as in what is your question? this is not a teaching board. - might be why the dislikes... sm

[ In Reply To ..]
dunno. If this was discussed here - you really need to post either on that thread so people know what you are talking about and why, or by email to the original poster who actually asked about it.

Most people jump on to grab a QUESTION and post a quick answer if and when we can, or share a link to a site they might find and answer and use for future reference.


can you give an example of where the doc changes it? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Some people use "a" and "an" incorrectly. The rules as you follow them are correct, i.e.:

I saw a UFC fight.
I went to an MRI center.

Can you give an example of where the dictator is using them incorrectly?

You are correct with #2 - Sunnycat

[ In Reply To ..]
I have been in the business for 51 years & started in journalism. Many times my dictators use incorrect applications & I have to correct them. Best wishes to you. This is a tough business!


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