Congar

Oh damn, it seems like you're right. Does this rule only apply to initialism, or does it also apply to regular wording as well?

pils

Initialism?

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Congar

As in initials, like URL and SOTM. URL is preceded with "a" because U makes the sound of "yu." "Yu" starts with y, thus making its predecessor "a" instead of "an." In SOTM, the letter S makes the sound of "ess." And since "ess" starts with e, then SOTM should be preceded with "an."

I read it somewhere on the intraweb, but still did not fully grasp the meaning. >___> Thus, I was wondering if this rule is also applied to actual words/non abbreviations as well. We must conduct a ritual to summon the alpha grammar nazi to find out. GYPSY!! COME FORTH! Or Agamo is fine also.

pils

Ah, gotcha... I wasn't sure if "initialism," was just some made up word. "Initials," never really occurred to me... I need more sleep.
Anyways, yeah, for the most part its only initialized words. The rule is dependent on annunciation, if I'm not mistaken. So when an "S" is pronounced as "ess," then you say "an." But you wouldn't say "an sailboat." Where as you might say, "an S.Y.T boat." If there is such a thing...

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Gypsy

an1

an [stressed, an unstressed, ən]
adj
a form of "a": used instead of "a," the indefinite article, in front of words with an initial vowel sound

The authority has spoken. It is an SOTM. It is also a signature of the month.

Bogart

Skeptic: Is SOTM really a word? Its an abbreveation, so does that rule apply?

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Congar

I thought this rule only applies to abbreviations. >__<

pils

Abbreviations are usually the only time you actually pronounce a letter as if its a word, or its own entity. So you aren't necessarily wrong for thinking that.
That answer's Bogart's question too...

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Jounin Kilika

Just as the mind finally begins to rest at ease...
Must there always be more questions?


I want everyone to say the following sentence:
"I hope to be a SOTM winner!"

The only way that sentence will make sense is if when you read SOTM your brain automatically reads it as "Sig Of The Month". This makes the matter more complicated, because I don't think any of us, if we were in a room talking together, would actually say "S-O-T-M", but rather, "Sig of the month". SOTM is just a shorter way to type out what we are really saying, which is "Sig of the month". That is why I believe, judging if people use a or an before "SOTM" will only show us how they are thinking it when they type it out.

Make sense?

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Bogart

Uhm yeah, after second thought, its clearly an SOTM.
Yes definitelly.

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