Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Articles before abbreviations

  1. #1
    Увлечённый спикер
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Vladivostok
    Posts
    47
    Rep Power
    13

    Articles before abbreviations

    Hi,
    What article should I use before abbreviated words? For example, if I am talking about an SMF file, where the SMF abbreviation means "standard MIDI file", should I use "a" or "an"? Letter S is consonant but it is prononced here as [es].

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Властелин
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    1,115
    Rep Power
    15

    Re: Articles before abbreviations

    Quote Originally Posted by Sleep
    Hi,
    What article should I use before abbreviated words? For example, if I am talking about an SMF file, where the SMF abbreviation means "standard MIDI file", should I use "a" or "an"? Letter S is consonant but it is prononced here as [es].

    Thanks.
    an SMF.
    Corrupting young minds since May 6, 2004.

  3. #3
    DDT
    DDT is offline
    Завсегдатай DDT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    I have given up the Gambling, the Wine and the Cows!.. I'm in St Petersburg Russia
    Posts
    3,368
    Rep Power
    17
    You should always use "an" if the next letter or sound starts with a vowel sound. If words are difficult to pronounce then you will know to use "an" this makes it flow and easier to say.
    Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think and act for myself. - Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

  4. #4
    awb
    awb is offline
    Увлечённый спикер
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    68
    Rep Power
    13
    sometimes this depends.. there are some abbreviations that some people will read as an actual word, and that others will read as individual letters, and the usage of a or an will thus differ..

    edit: with your SMF example though, I think everyone would use an. i don't think anyone would try to pronounce that as were it a word.

  5. #5
    Почтенный гражданин Volk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    302
    Rep Power
    13
    I was thinking about this and I found a good way of knowing which to use.

    First, going with what DDT stated about it flowing, you have to think about the pronounciation of the proceeding letter.

    E.g

    It's an SMF because you pronounce the first letter and not the word, as 'ess', because it pronounciation-wise, starts with a vowel, this is why it flows more easily.
    Please correct any Russian language mistakes I make.

  6. #6
    awb
    awb is offline
    Увлечённый спикер
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    68
    Rep Power
    13
    if the acronym can be said as a word, then do it either way. if you say it out loud to someone and they don't understand you, then spell it out (and use the corresponding article)

  7. #7
    Властелин
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    1,115
    Rep Power
    15
    Quote Originally Posted by DDT
    You should always use "an" if the next letter or sound starts with a vowel sound. If words are difficult to pronounce then you will know to use "an" this makes it flow and easier to say.
    Like во время or со мной.
    Corrupting young minds since May 6, 2004.

  8. #8
    Увлечённый спикер
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Vladivostok
    Posts
    47
    Rep Power
    13
    Thanks for your replies. I think I understood the idea

  9. #9
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Англия
    Posts
    358
    Rep Power
    13
    For an example to ewb's post, I see both "an URL" and "a URL", pronounced "an earl" and "a you are el", respectively. Both stand for Uniform Resource Locator (a friendly Internet address).
    Ленин пил
    Ленин пьёт
    Ленин будет пить

Similar Threads

  1. Use of articles
    By sergey.k in forum Learn English - Грамматика, переводы, словарный запас
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: September 26th, 2009, 01:24 PM
  2. The love to abbreviations (... and acronyms)
    By CoffeeCup in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: July 9th, 2009, 04:18 PM
  3. grammar abbreviations
    By sperk in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: August 20th, 2006, 05:43 AM
  4. articles
    By WishMaster in forum Learn English - Грамматика, переводы, словарный запас
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: March 1st, 2006, 04:08 PM
  5. Some abbreviations
    By Tu-160 in forum Learn English - Грамматика, переводы, словарный запас
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: June 17th, 2004, 02:34 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


Russian Lessons                           

Russian Tests and Quizzes            

Russian Vocabulary