TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re[2]: Articles with Acronyms From:"Virginia L. Krenn" <asdxvlk -at- OKWAY -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU> Date:Fri, 13 Jan 1995 08:48:42 -0600
This really doesn't depend on tradition or opinion. The article, an,
is used before any word that doesn't have a starting consonant sound
so that there won't be two consecutive vowel sounds. Just decide how
you pronounce a word and then use the appropriate article.
______________________________ Reply Separator ____________________________
Subject: Re: Articles with Acronyms
Author: "Sandy, Corinne" <CHS8 -at- cpsod1 -dot- em -dot- cdc -dot- gov> at SMTP
Date: 1/12/95 9:12 AM
Something caught my eye during this discussion. I read in some style guide
a long time ago that "an" before a word beginning with "h" is not
incorrect. An "a" should be used. The rationale is because,
historically, h's were not pronounced . Instead of pronouncing "history"
it used to be pronounced 'istory. And because of this, "an" was used.
Now-a-days in English, it is pronounced history, so an is supposedly
obsolete. Consequently, I write and say "a" before "h." The funny thing
is, though, that I was tempted to write "an" when writing this e-mail
anytime I was going to write "h." So, now I'm not sure. What do you
think?
