A User or An User?

[Dossy Shiobara]

On 2008.05.27, Will Husa <Will.Husa at 4techwriter.com> wrote:
> One of my clients may be confused on the use of "a vs an" when it comes to 
> IT technical terms. The Associated Press Stylebook 2004 recommends that you 
> use "a" before a word that sounds like a consonant. (A one-user license 
> sounds like "a won you sir license.") Whereas, "an" should be used before a 
> word that sounds like a vowel. (An NBA record sounds like "an en bee a 
> record.")
> 
> I've been using "a User" in my manuals. In your manuals, do you refer to the 
> user as "a User" or "an User?"

"User" sounds like it starts with a consonant ("youser") - thus, "a
user" should be used.

Here's a link to a slightly more approachable explanation of the rule,
IMHO:

    http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/esliart.html


-- 
Dossy Shiobara              | dossy at panoptic.com | http://dossy.org/
Panoptic Computer Network   | http://panoptic.com/
  "He realized the fastest way to change is to laugh at your own
    folly -- then you can let go and quickly move on." (p. 70)