Grammar Question!

[EpsiIon]

I'm using the abbreviation M.S.

Should I use "an M.S." or "a M.S."? I'm leaning towards "an" since I would actually say the letters of the abbreviation. But there very well could be an odd grammatical rule about such things.

Any grammar nazis want to give me a hand?

 

[axelfox]

What is the context?

 

[baoytl]

an M.S.

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: baoytl
an M.S.

can you give more?

 

[Otaking]

An. :thumbsup: Phonetically, M begins with "e"

 

[syzygy]

usually if the word begins with a consonant its 'a', whereas if a word begins with a vowel its 'an' i.e. a person, an animal, a bump, an eland, a deer, an unguent
but some info about a specific example would be helpful

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: Otaking
An. :thumbsup: Phonetically, M begins with "e"

:thumbsup: :beer:

I feel qualified to reply since the other day I was branded as a grammar nazi...

And yes, it is because we use the phonetic sound of the letter.

 

[EpsiIon]

Originally posted by: axelfox
What is the context?

The context should be irrelevant. I'm only asking which article I should use with a specific abbreviation.

"An M.S." actually makes a lot of sense now that I think about it. If I don't want to use "an", I should probably type the whole thing out (ie "a masters of science").

 

[Otaking]

Originally posted by: syzygy
usually if the word begins with a consonant its 'a', whereas if a word begins with a vowel its 'an' i.e. a person, an animal, a bump, an eland, a deer, an unguent
but some info about a specific example would be helpful

Would you say "A X-ray" or "An X-ray?"

(Should be the latter btw b/c of phonetics, not necessary the letter)

 

[syzygy]

Originally posted by: Otaking

Originally posted by: syzygy
usually if the word begins with a consonant its 'a', whereas if a word begins with a vowel its 'an' i.e. a person, an animal, a bump, an eland, a deer, an unguent
but some info about a specific example would be helpful

Would you say "A X-ray" or "An X-ray?"

(Should be the latter btw b/c of phonetics, not necessary the letter)

true. i said 'usually'. there are always exceptions and new exceptions, tweaks, and
subtle changes are always occuring. language and grammar evolves for good and ill.

 

[baoytl]

Originally posted by: axelfox

Originally posted by: baoytl
an M.S.

can you give more?

dictionary link

 

[EpsiIon]

Originally posted by: syzygy
usually if the word begins with a consonant its 'a', whereas if a word begins with a vowel its 'an' i.e. a person, an animal, a bump, an eland, a deer, an unguent
but some info about a specific example would be helpful

I understand this. 🙂 You missed the point of the question.

When you say "masters of science," the correct article is clearly "a". When you say "em ess", the correct article is clearly "an". But if you just write "M.S.", you have no way of knowing whether the recipient will automatically expand the abbreviation into "masters of science".

I suppose expanding it would actually be improper, since I should write what I expect to be read. "An" it is. Thanks.

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: syzygy
true. i said 'usually'. there are always exceptions and new exceptions, tweaks, and
subtle changes are always occuring. language and grammar evolves for good and ill.

But that's not new nor an exception. It's the beginning sound of the word not the beginning letter of the word. For example, it's an honor but a hotel. In the first, the "h" is silent.

In the OP's case, it's the "em" sound, so it's an M.S.

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: EpsiIon

Originally posted by: axelfox
What is the context?

The context should be irrelevant. I'm only asking which article I should use with a specific abbreviation.

"An M.S." actually makes a lot of sense now that I think about it. If I don't want to use "an", I should probably type the whole thing out (ie "a masters of science").

It probably should be irrelevant, but it is to me as it would help me better answer his question.

 

[tami]

an M.S.

 

[Otaking]

EpsiIon: Are you writing a resume?

 

[Landroval]

in some contexts it can also be "the M.S." -- sounds awkward, I know

 

[oog]

Originally posted by: labgeek

Originally posted by: syzygy
true. i said 'usually'. there are always exceptions and new exceptions, tweaks, and
subtle changes are always occuring. language and grammar evolves for good and ill.

But that's not new nor an exception. It's the beginning sound of the word not the beginning letter of the word. For example, it's an honor but a hotel. In the first, the "h" is silent.

In the OP's case, it's the "em" sound, so it's an M.S.

You'll find a lot of places use "an historical event" even though the h is not silent.

edit: I agree with using "an" with M.S. -- in cases where I see "M.S.", I don't read it aloud as expanded as "Master of Science".

 

[labgeek]

To the OP -


http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/cmosfaq.html

Q. I am trying to find out when you write if you say ?an MBA? or ?a MBA.? Here is the example I?m trying to figure out: He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

A. Write what you say. MBA is an initialism, pronounced ?em be ayy? (or something like that). It begins, then, with a vowel sound: write ?an MBA.? On the other hand, write ?a master of business administration degree.? Initialisms and acronyms are generally intended to be read as such, whereas abbreviations (e.g., 5th St., read ?fifth street?) are often meant to conjure the full form

To oog -

Sorry but it should be "a historical event" because the h is not silent. "An" in that case would be incorrect.

 

[EpsiIon]

Originally posted by: labgeek
To the OP -


http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/cmosfaq.html

Q. I am trying to find out when you write if you say ?an MBA? or ?a MBA.? Here is the example I?m trying to figure out: He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

A. Write what you say. MBA is an initialism, pronounced ?em be ayy? (or something like that). It begins, then, with a vowel sound: write ?an MBA.? On the other hand, write ?a master of business administration degree.? Initialisms and acronyms are generally intended to be read as such, whereas abbreviations (e.g., 5th St., read ?fifth street?) are often meant to conjure the full form

To oog -

Sorry but it should be "a historical event" because the h is not silent. "An" in that case would be incorrect.

Thanks labgeek. But what about dialects in which the h is silent?

EDIT: Grammar. 😛

 

[oog]

Originally posted by: labgeek
To the OP -


http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/cmosfaq.html

Q. I am trying to find out when you write if you say ?an MBA? or ?a MBA.? Here is the example I?m trying to figure out: He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

A. Write what you say. MBA is an initialism, pronounced ?em be ayy? (or something like that). It begins, then, with a vowel sound: write ?an MBA.? On the other hand, write ?a master of business administration degree.? Initialisms and acronyms are generally intended to be read as such, whereas abbreviations (e.g., 5th St., read ?fifth street?) are often meant to conjure the full form

To oog -

Sorry but it should be "a historical event" because the h is not silent. "An" in that case would be incorrect.

i won't press the point. i just said that you'll find a lot of places that will use "an" because this is a grammar rule that is currently changing (to "a") but not yet complete. it is particularly prevalent in british english that you'll still see "an". the underlying rule is that if the word that starts with h does not have start with an accent on the first syllable, then that "h" tended to not be aspirated and hence "an" was appropriate. the use of "an" is a hold over from that and hasn't gone completely away. you will find people who insist that "an" is okay. some even insist that it is "right", but i don't.

as a point of reference: Text, though they even say that the rule only survives with the word "historical" today.

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: labgeek

Originally posted by: Otaking
An. :thumbsup: Phonetically, M begins with "e"

:thumbsup: :beer:

I feel qualified to reply since the other day I was branded as a grammar nazi...

And yes, it is because we use the phonetic sound of the letter.

this is absolutely correct