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Post by Pete on Jun 25, 2008 18:31:36 GMT
I was reviewing a latter today, which referred to a Members' Voluntary Liquidation, referred to thereafter as MVL. Is it then "a MVL" or "an MVL". I prefer "an MVL", because that's how I would naturally say it. But am I right?  |
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Post by Dr Mildr on Jun 25, 2008 18:41:51 GMT
I always write an LA for a local authority, but I think it generally gets corrected to a LA (much to my annoyance).
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Post by goofy on Jun 25, 2008 18:51:14 GMT
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Post by Alan Palmer on Jun 25, 2008 19:09:20 GMT
I always write an LA for a local authority, but I think it generally gets corrected to a LA (much to my annoyance). So do I, but no-one messes with my words, so it stays that way! If the first letter, when pronounced, starts with a vowel sound, such as "el" for L or "em" for M, I use "an" before it. |
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Post by Dave M on Jun 25, 2008 20:55:38 GMT
It all depends on how you expect people to pronounce the letters. If you write This is an RAF base, then you're expecting the pronunciation "arr-ay-eff". If you write This is a RAF base, then you're expecting that it'll be said "raff", or possibly "Royal Air Force".
In the original example, then, the author suggesting "a MVL" is expecting the initials to be expanded, as "Members' Voluntary Liquidation". I reckon that's an unrealistic expectation, and most readers would say "Emm-vee-ell". I certainly would, and for me the "a MVL" construction grates horribly.
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Post by Tone on Jun 25, 2008 20:57:59 GMT
And we are back to the "an FAQ" versus "a FAQ" difference-of-opinion, are we not?
Tone
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Post by Verbivore on Jun 26, 2008 4:08:23 GMT
Stick with it, Pete. Opening vowel-sound = an preceding.
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Post by Dave on Jun 26, 2008 6:18:59 GMT
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Post by Tone on Jun 26, 2008 20:01:08 GMT
Dave, >From the wiki: A or An<Gosh! That's brilliant!  Tone |
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