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: using articles (exceptions to rules, etc.) From:ROMAY SITZE <rositze -at- NMSU -dot- EDU> Date:Wed, 17 Jan 1996 13:30:33 -0700
On Wed, 17 Jan 1996, Roberta J. Kirby-Werner wrote:
> In the thread concerning the pronunciation of acronyms, some folks
> mentioned exceptions to the rules for using articles preceding words
> beginning with vowels as well as with the consonant "h". I learned
> several years ago (in a graduate linguistics class) that the criterion for
> choosing the right article is the _sound_ which begins the word, not
> purely whether it's a vowel or consonant.
Sound is the criterion I learned also. It works reasonably well and is
an easier method than any other I have ever seen.
